Word has come in that Bruce “Uncle Duke” Seifried has passed away from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). If you’re in the miniatures gaming hobby, you probably knew of “Uncle Duke”. He was intimately involved in the creation of the hobby, even before there was such a notion. Duke was a born salesman.. and more importantly a showman. He knew that the way to sell the hobby was to sell the sizzle, so he could be seen at all the big conventions back in the late 70s and early 80s, showing off the wares, making connections, and selling the fun. He was an early pioneer who saw the potential of miniatures with roleplaying games (which was mostly D&D in those days). Duke worked for a lot of companies over the years, TSR, Heritage Models and other outfits (often with whomever he could form an alliance with to market toy soldiers). By the 1990s, miniature wargaming and “adventure gaming”, as he coined the phrase, had developed into a thriving hobby industry. After he semi-retired from manufacturing and selling, he continued to put on giant extravaganza games- Aztec Cities, the Bocage, giant Pirate games, and the Siege of Minas Tirith– Duke knew how to put on a show.

If you have an interest in purchasing any of his old presentations, see here. I am not certain if they are still for sale.

I didn’t know Duke all that well, I have had dinner with him a few times at HMGS conventions. He stopped attending them due to health issues, so it had been some time since I had seen him. I never knew back in the “glory days” of the early 80s. My memories are that he was a teller of some rather imaginative stories about the industry in the 70s.

The Hobby, and HMGS, have both lost a big personality and a pioneer today. Uncle Duke will be missed.

A far more detailed obit can be found here

Memorial Service (posted on HMGS Online and other places)



The Memorial Service for Duke will be Saturday, October 20 at 11:00 a.m., at Hope Lutheran Church, 335 Dairyland Dr, Milton, WI. There will be a visitation prior to and luncheon following the service. The Jazz for Jesus band, of which Duke was a member, will perform. This will definitely be a Celebration of Duke’s life, as he requested – “no doom or gloom!” There will be an opportunity at the service for those who want to share remembrances to do so, and vintage Duke video clips can be viewed during the luncheon. If you are planning on attending the luncheon, please e-mail me so we have an idea of how much food to prepare.

My e-mail is: Nplus9010@aol.com

Due to family members with allergies – please, no flowers.

Our family cannot adequately express our heartfelt thanks for the many kind words and remembrances we have received. We are touched and grateful.Thank you all and may God bless you. We look forward to seeing you on October 20th.

Annette Baker (Duke’s wife and number one cheerleader) and Family