11/30/1925 - 12/16/2019
Neil Leon Duke, age 94, passed away on Monday December 16, 2019 at 2:10
AM at his home the loving care of his family. He was a resident of Robin
Hood at Grace Village, Winona Lake, IN.
Neil was born November 30,
1925 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Neil moved to Portland, IN at the age of
15. His move to Indiana was promted by his desire to support his siblings.
At the age of 18, he joined the US 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 Japanes surrendered. After returning from
the Navy he took a job at Sheller Globe Corp. in Portland, IN. 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 Dept.
Neil bought a farm just outside Pennville, IN. 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, IN, and son Gregory Duke of Pennville,
Four grandchildren Kelli Poulimenos (husband Christopher) of Ft. Wayne,
Kerri Dlugokinski (husband Joseph) of Plymouth, IN, Steven Kyle Evans of
Hollywood, FL and Lynsey Nicol Duke of Wellston, OK, Four great
grandchildren
Funeral services will be Friday December 20, 2019 at
2:00 PM in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home in Portland with Pastor Gary
Phillips presiding. A masonic services 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 12:00 – 2:00 on
Friday. A memorial service will be held at Grace Village in Winona Lake on
January 5th. Memorials can be made to Gideon's International
Baird-Freeman Funeral Home; December 18, 2019
Contributed by Jim Cox
Buried in IOOF Cemetery in Pennville aka Twin Hill Cemetery