Derald Duane Caister

Derald "Duane" Caister, age 85, of Elkton, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Huron County Medical Care Facility following a brief stay of one week. Until then, he had continued to reside in the comfort of his home. Duane was born on December 18, 1940, in Cass City, the son of the late Wilford and Mary (Schweitzer) Caister and was a 1959 graduate of Cass City High School. In his younger years, Duane worked on the farm with his father and competed in drag racing. On July 11, 1964, he married the love of his life, Janet Schwartz, at St. Pancratius Catholic Church in Cass City.

Before long, they began building a family and were blessed with three wonderful sons. They eventually made their home in Elkton, where they became devoted members of St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Pigeon, a parish he faithfully attended for the rest of his life. Duane worked as a forklift operator at Active Industries/Tower Automotive in Elkton for thirty-seven years before retiring in 2005.

Once retired, Duane and Janet began taking bus trips around the United States, visiting places like Washington D.C., St. Augustine, Florida, and Savanah, Georgia. The memories they made of those trips were among their most cherished and remained a highlight of their many years together.

Duane had a lifelong passion for model trains and took great pride in designing and building the intricate tracks they traveled. He also had a deep appreciation for classic cars, enjoying both their restoration and the opportunity to showcase them at car shows. His knowledge of vintage automobiles was remarkable. While watching old movies, he could identify the make and model of nearly every car without a moment's hesitation. He also loved attending tractor pulls, often taking his sons along to share in the excitement, and made the trip to the championship events in Ohio whenever he could. A devoted Detroit Tigers fan, Duane enjoyed cheering on his favorite team. One of Duane's greatest joys was riding motorcycles. Whether taking a leisurely ride through the countryside or heading out on a new adventure, he cherished the freedom and peace that came with being on the open road.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of nearly sixty-two years, Janet; their sons, Randall (Mary) and Mark (Amanda); grandchildren, Matthew, Nathan, Lillian, and Hannah; sisters in-law, Marjorie, Joann, and Mary Jane; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Duane was preceded in death by his son, Brian; siblings, Arthur, Mary Lou, Joanne, and Janet.

In accordance with Duane's wishes, cremation is to take place. A memorial service for him will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Ransford Funeral Home of Pigeon, with Father George Amos presiding. Visitation will take place at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be made to Thumb Animal Shelter or the Elkton Lion's Club.