Chad Lee Duerksen, age 51 of Windom passed away peacefully surrounded by his siblings Friday, January 17, 2020 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Chad was born on July 10, 1968, in Windom, Minnesota to the late Milton "Tex" and Georgine (Wacker) Duerksen. Chad enjoyed living in Delft, Minnesota for twenty-one years with his family and it continued to be his favorite place to visit. Chad graduated from Windom Area High School in the Class of 1989. He then moved to New Ulm for twenty-five years and moved back to Windom in 2015 to live at the Home for Creative Living. While living in New Ulm, Chad worked at MRCI and when in Windom at the Jackson County DAC. It is very rare to meet a person who wholeheartedly wants to brighten your universe by being completely themselves-Chad Lee Duerksen was exactly that. He was a son, brother, uncle, nephew and friend to many. Chad took amazing care of his family. He was the glue that held many people's lives together and he taught people compassion and created a comfort with a loving heart. He inspired many to laugh and smile and motived others to celebrate life and all the wonderful things it has to offer. Chad had a special way of melting hardened hearts and changing how people viewed and treated others with special needs. Chad accomplished many goals in his life. He met the crew of his favorite TV show (The Dukes of Hazard) and was able to ride in his dream car (The General Lee). He worked hard at his job and loved to celebrate his birthday. Chad loved his friends and family very much that was is clear, but he also kept that love open to anyone willing to spend a few minutes with him. Live as your authentic self. Laugh as much and often as possible and let your love shine through to others in the way that Chad did. Blessed was the time we spent with Chad. Our world will never be the same without him, but it was truly a better place having him in it. Chad was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom where he was baptized on August 11, 1968 and later confirmed in that same church on May 31, 1984. Chad is survived by his one brother and two sisters, Dale (Vicki) Duerksen of Plymouth; Brenda (Charles) Behrends of Lakefield; Karen (Dan) Porisch of Dodge Center; 1 niece and 6 nephews; several great-nieces and nephews; aunts and uncles; high school sweetheart, Amy Jo Larson of Windom; dear friend, Austin Ewing of Windom; housemates from Apartment 4 at the Home for Creative Living; and many friends.