Duane C Day

Duane C. Day died peacefully in Omaha on Tuesday, January 6 at the age of 92. Visitation will be Thursday, January 8 from 6 pm to 8 pm at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home. A funeral service is scheduled Friday, January 9 at 10:30 am at First United Methodist Church officiated by Reverend Gary Main. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon following the service with military honors conducted by the Navy Honors Team in conjunction with the American Legion Post 52 and VFW 759. A luncheon for family and friends will be held at the Eagles Club post burial. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to Disabled American Veterans (www.DAV.org). Online condolences may be submitted to www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family would like to thank the caregivers of Good Samaritan Society of Kearney and Millard for the outstanding attention they provided their father and brother. Duane was born April 6, 1922 in rural Gibbon, NE. He married Ilene Geisert and, together, had four children. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve our country during WWII where he became seaman 1st class on the USS Washington, a battleship assigned to the Pacific war theatre. During those three years the crew fought in fifteen major battles, sank more tonnage than any other battleship and never lost a man to the enemy. Admiral Lee commanded his task force from the bridge where Duane’s signal post was; even in his last weeks, Duane would tap Morse Code to impress his children. After the war, Duane farmed and worked construction. He was among the first to be hired when Eaton Corporation opened in Kearney because of his welding expertise. He retired from Eaton Corporation after fifteen years, proudly having never taken a sick day. He is said to have been capable of keeping any and every machine in the plant in operating condition. Like so many WWII Veterans, because Duane enlisted in the Navy, he was unable to complete high school. However, it was the proudest day of his life when, in December, 2000, his military service was recognized by Operation Recognition making him an honorary graduate by awarding him his high school diploma from Kearney Senior High School. After retirement Duane pursued his hobby of restoring antique and classic cars full time. He enjoyed traveling nationally and internationally. He especially looked forward to attending his USS Washington Navy reunions biannually. He was a member of a local car club, the Elks, Eagles, Legion, Moose and VFW service organizations. Duane is survived by his children; Delbert of Denver, CO; Gary (Tamara) of Omaha, Carolyn Fenstermacher of Kearney, Cindy Close (Jeffrey) of Palm Springs, CA, a grandson, Scott Fenstermacher (Lori) and two great-granddaughters, Jaina and Shelby Fenstermacher of Springfield, IL, two sisters; Corinne Olmsted (Robert) of Kearney, Janice Gentry (Boyd) of North Platte, and one brother, Dennis (Sandy) of Gibbon. He was preceded in death by his parents Dewey and Laura (Kirk) Day, three sisters; Zelda Burvanis, Osa Kelsey, (Ida)Jane Luther and one brother; Forrest.

Duane C Day

April 6, 1922 - January 6, 2015