Duane’s Obituary Duane E. Albers, 74 of Rantoul, passed away at 3:50 a.m. Wednesday, February 6, 2019, at OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, Urbana. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 10, 2019, at American Lutheran Church, 500 Church Drive, Rantoul with Rev. Matt Bahnfleth officiating.
Burial will follow in Huls Cemetery, Gifford. Baier Family Funeral Services, Paxton is assisting the family with arrangements. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Saturday at American Lutheran Church, Rantoul.
Duane was born August 3, 1944 in Urbana the son of Ehme and Irene Janssen Albers. He married Linette Hensley July 4, 1965 at American Lutheran Church, Rantoul. She survives.
Along with his wife, Linette, he is survived by a son, Todd (Angie) Albers of St. Joseph; two sisters, JoAnn Ehmen of Rantoul, Phyllis (Dean) Blackford of rural Rankin; a brother, Dale (Cathy) Albers of Thomasboro; aunt, Norma Flessner of Rantoul; uncle, Dick Albers of Gifford; nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews; three god daughters and one god son. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law, Ron Ehmen and a nephew. Duane graduated from Rantoul Twp.
High School in 1962 and from DeVry Technical Institute, Chicago in 1964. He worked for Magnavox, Urbana and retired as a service technician from Xerox. After his retirement, he worked part-time for Hoveln Heating & Cooling for a number of years.
He and his family lived in the St. Joseph area before moving back to Rantoul in 1987 where he bought farm land and began farming which was a life-long dream of his. He was a member of American Lutheran Church, Rantoul and past president and trustee of the church council. He was a former member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Joseph and past president of the church council and building committee.
Duane was a member of Ostfriesen Society, Flatville, the I & I Antique Tractor & Gas Club, American Paint Horse Association, Illinois Case Association, Rantoul Historical Society, J. I. Case Collector Association, American Quarter Horse Association and the Table of Knowledge, Thomasboro. He was a Rantoul Twp. trustee and past president and trustee of the Thomasboro Improvement Association.
He had also been involved with the St. Joseph Little League and Spartan Booster Club. Duane loved life and always enjoyed being with his many friends, traveling, rodeos, attending farm, car and tractor shows and restoring old tractors. He had a great passion for raising horses.
His greatest joy was spending time with his family. Memorials may be made to the American Lutheran Church, Rantoul or an organization of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be offered at www.
baierfuneralservices.com.
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