Duane E. Wilken, age 79, of Huron, died Friday, February 5, 2016, at the Violet Tschetter Memorial Home. His funeral service was held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, February 9th at the First United Methodist Church. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Duane Eugene Wilken was born on May 7, 1936, at Murdock, Nebraska to August and Wilma (Knosp) Wilken. He grew up in Murdock, and graduated from Murdock High School in 1954.
In 1958, Duane married Carolyn DuBois at Hitchcock.They had two children, Brian and Melissa.
On August 27, 1982, Duane married Della Fanger at Huron. He became a father to his adopted son, Jeff Wilken and step-father to John and Julie.
Duane worked as a bookkeeper for the Marvin Hughitt, Huron Clinic, Northwest Pipe and Cook Seed.
He enjoyed bowling and bowled on several leagues in Huron.He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and walking his dog, Freddie around town.
He was an active life-long member of the Methodist church. Duane served as an usher for many years, as well as on several committees. He also helped with the sound booth and radio broadcast for years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and great-granddaughter, Tianna.
Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Della, of Huron; five children, Brian (Dolores) Wilken of Huron, Melissa Buus of Huron, John (Monica) Horn of Huron, Julie (Dan) Geiger of Watertown, Minnesota, and Jeffrey Wilken of Arlington, Minnesota; eleven grandchildren, Whitney Wilken, Wade Wilken, Avalon Wilken, Mercedes Wilken, Tracy Horn, Devin Horn, Krystal Wilken, Dustin Wilken, Kelsea Buus, Bingle Torres and Christopher Wilken; ten great grandchildren, Tyler, Jazmyn, Xaivion, Zaybein, Zakese, Ziya, Ayla, Liam, Lennon and Lillian; one brother, Warren (Michael) Wilken of Sun City West, Arizona; one sister, Marlene Stutheit of Murdock, Nebraska; and several nieces and nephews.