Obituary of Kevin Jay Tewes

    Kevin Jay Tewes, son of Lester Lawrence and Dorothy Eva (Diekmann) Tewes was born June 26, 1959 in Hartley, IA. At a young age, Kevin adopted the nickname of “Duffer”, being shortened to simply “Duff” as he got older. He received his education at Hartley Community School, graduating with the class of 1977.

    On August 29, 1981, Duff was united in marriage to Jean Lynette Otto at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley. They became parents of three children: Amanda, Samantha, and Jacob. Following their marriage, Duff and Jean made their home on a farm near Hartley; Duff farmed with his sister, Glenda, raising row crops, hogs and beef cattle.

    Ever the outdoorsman, Duff took advantage of any opportunity to go hunting – tracking down whatever was in season. He always took pictures of the wildlife he, his kids, grandkids or hunting partners managed to come up with that day, whether it was a deer, coyote, fox, racoon, beaver, muskrat, opossum, otter, skunk, goose, duck, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, skeefer, frog or fish! He was adept at skinning and proudly displayed furs and antlers to be admired by himself and others; more like a silent tribute to Mother Nature and the great outdoors he so admired.

    Duff enjoyed sharing his love of hunting, shooting and trapping - especially with his own children. On different occasions, he had given skinning demonstrations to youth groups and shared his trapping skills at local schools; yet his greatest joy was watching his own kids and grandkids hunt, shoot or fish. He was also an avid collector, always on the lookout for special guns, ammunition and old coins.

    As the years passed, Duff remained young at heart. He was usually found to be at the root of tricks or pranks pulled on friends and family alike…and would “help” his grandkids get into trouble. When the guilty child was confronted with his error, their only defense was, “Papa told me to do it!”

    While it was quite a challenge to get Duff off the farm, he and Jean did enjoy trips to places like the Black Hills, Maui, Las Vegas, Alaska, Lake Rathbun and North Liberty. Yet he was equally content to be home playing card games with family and friends. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley.       

    On Friday, February 24, 2023, Duff passed from this life at the age of 63 years. He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Ernest and Nellie Tewes and Fritz and Amanda Diekmann; his parents, Lester and Dorothy Tewes; his brother, Jerry Tewes; father-in-law, Sharon Otto; and niece, Michaela Otto.    

    Keeping his memory close at heart are his wife, Jean Tewes of Hartley, IA; his children: Amanda (Paul) Ahrenstorff of Hartley, IA, Samantha (Zach) VandeKamp of Sanborn, IA, and Jacob (Kate) Tewes of Hartley, IA; grandchildren: Hunter Ahrenstorff, Ellisyn Scroggin, Hoyt Ahrenstorff, Blaklee VandeKamp, Barrett Tewes, and another due in July; his sisters: Glenda Tewes of Hartley, IA and Karen (Phil “Doc”) Scott of Aurora, CO; sisters-in-law: Sheri Tewes of Hartley, IA and Joanne Otto (friend, Mike) of Fairview, SD; brothers-in-law: Jeff (Meg) Otto of Orange City, IA and Jerry (Kathleen) Otto of Hartley, IA; mother-in-law, Marian Otto of Hartley, IA; many nieces, nephews and a host of good friends.