Duane Anthony Hunter, age 95, of Overland Park, KS, and formerly of Ralston, NE, and Glidden, IA, passed away on Tuesday, May 05, 2020 at Sunrise of Overland Park.
A private family funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 9, 2020 at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll with Rev. Greg Berger of Messiah Lutheran Church in Ralston, NE, officiating. Burial will be in the Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery near Glidden with military honors conducted by the Glidden American Legion. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
A recording of Duane’s funeral will be available following the service on the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home YouTube channel. A link will be provided on his obituary tribute page at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Those wishing to mail a memorial may send it to: The family of Duane Hunter c/o Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home, 705 N. Carroll St., Carroll, Iowa 51401.
Born on April 12, 1925 in Carroll, IA, he was the son of Glenn and Minnie (Reinowski) Hunter. He grew up in Glidden and graduated from Glidden High School in 1942. He entered the Army Air Corps following high school and attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Duane was stationed in Europe and worked as a navigator on a B-17 Bomber. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Iowa and attended Iowa State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. Following college, he was hired by the United States Government to work on the Panama Canal. He was married to Arlene Wilhelm on December 15, 1950 in Panama City, Panama. The couple moved to Chicago for several years and then to Omaha in 1957 where he worked for Western Electric as an Engineer. He also worked as the Chief of Fire Protection for Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base. Duane retired in 1989 and continued to live in Ralston, NE, until moving to Overland Park, KS, in 2016 to be near his family. Duane enjoyed playing piano, drawing and sketching cartoons, playing Bridge, golfing, and spending time with his family. While living in Ralston, he was a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church, the American Legion in Ralston, NE, and the Masonic Lodge where he was a Shriner. Duane remained close to his military buddies and attended many reunions over the years. Every year, his family and friends would look forward to his Christmas letter which was filled with his quick-witted humor that showcased what was always available whenever you were around him.
Duane is survived by three sons: Gregg Hunter (Kyle) of Olathe, KS, Kevin Hunter (Laura) of St. Charles, MO, and Mark Hunter (Colleen) of Olathe, KS; eight grandchildren; four sisters-inlaw: Margaret Hippen of Ames, IA, Donna Day (Roger) of Humbolt, IA, Elaine Johnson of Urbandale, IA, and Sharon McCormick of Sterling Heights, MI; four brothers-in-law: Milton Wilhelm of LuVerne, IA, Loren Wilhelm (Betty) of Boone, IA, Kenneth Wilhelm (Susan) of Grand Rapids, MI, and Ronald Wilhelm (Theresa) of Lincoln, Ne; and many nieces and nephews.
Duane was preceded in death by his wife Arlene in 2004; his parents Glenn and Minnie Hunter; his in-laws Albert and Della Wilhelm; and two sisters: Donna Jenkins and Phyllis DeVore.
