December 18, 2019 at 5:39 p.m.
Neil Duke
Nov. 30, 1925-Dec. 16, 2019
Neil Leon Duke, age 94, passed away on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, at 2:10 a.m. at his home in the loving care of his family. He was a resident of Robin Hood at Grace Village, Winona Lake, Indiana.
Neil was born Nov. 30, 1925, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Neil moved to Portland, Indiana, at the age of 15. His move to Indiana was prompted by his desire to support his siblings.
At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Navy. He served from 1944 until 1946. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and was assigned to the USS Mayrant. He was at Marcus Island when the Japanese surrendered. After returning from the Navy he took a job at Sheller Globe Corp. in Portland, Indiana.
Neil met Frances (Swank) Duke and their romance blossomed, and they married in 1948. They were married 71 years this past October.
Neil retired from Sheller-Globe after 30 years. He later took a job with the Jay County Highway Department.
Neil bought a farm just outside Pennville, Indiana, and farmed on the side. He loved hunting, fishing, trapping, growing a large garden, flowers, bird watching along with his property and pond, and was a nature lover. Most of all he loved his family.
He was a member of the Pennville United Methodist Church, a 40-year member of Gideon's International, an 11-year member of Jay County REMC Board, a 50-year member of Pennville Masonic Lodge #212 and a 50-year member of the Scottish Rite.
He is survived by his wife Frances (Swank) Duke; daughter, Nancy Jo Sausaman (husband: Steve) of Warsaw, Indiana; son, Gregory Duke of Pennville; four grandchildren, Kelli Poulimenos (husband: Christopher) of Fort Wayne, Kerri Dlugokinski (husband: Joseph) of Plymouth, Indiana, Steven Kyle Evans of Hollywood, Florida, and Lynsey Nicol Duke of Wellston, Oklahoma; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, at 2 p.m. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland with Pastor Gary Phillips presiding. A masonic service will be held as part of the services. Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery in Pennville with military graveside rites by American Legion Post #211. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday. A memorial service will be held at Grace Village in Winona Lake on Jan. 5.
Memorials can be made to Gideon's International or Grace Village at Winona Lake.
Condolences may be expressed at bairdfreeman.com.
Neil was born Nov. 30, 1925, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Neil moved to Portland, Indiana, at the age of 15. His move to Indiana was prompted by his desire to support his siblings.
At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Navy. He served from 1944 until 1946. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and was assigned to the USS Mayrant. He was at Marcus Island when the Japanese surrendered. After returning from the Navy he took a job at Sheller Globe Corp. in Portland, Indiana.
Neil met Frances (Swank) Duke and their romance blossomed, and they married in 1948. They were married 71 years this past October.
Neil retired from Sheller-Globe after 30 years. He later took a job with the Jay County Highway Department.
Neil bought a farm just outside Pennville, Indiana, and farmed on the side. He loved hunting, fishing, trapping, growing a large garden, flowers, bird watching along with his property and pond, and was a nature lover. Most of all he loved his family.
He was a member of the Pennville United Methodist Church, a 40-year member of Gideon's International, an 11-year member of Jay County REMC Board, a 50-year member of Pennville Masonic Lodge #212 and a 50-year member of the Scottish Rite.
He is survived by his wife Frances (Swank) Duke; daughter, Nancy Jo Sausaman (husband: Steve) of Warsaw, Indiana; son, Gregory Duke of Pennville; four grandchildren, Kelli Poulimenos (husband: Christopher) of Fort Wayne, Kerri Dlugokinski (husband: Joseph) of Plymouth, Indiana, Steven Kyle Evans of Hollywood, Florida, and Lynsey Nicol Duke of Wellston, Oklahoma; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, at 2 p.m. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland with Pastor Gary Phillips presiding. A masonic service will be held as part of the services. Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery in Pennville with military graveside rites by American Legion Post #211. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday. A memorial service will be held at Grace Village in Winona Lake on Jan. 5.
Memorials can be made to Gideon's International or Grace Village at Winona Lake.
Condolences may be expressed at bairdfreeman.com.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
September 13, 2023 12:12 p.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD