Vernon Edward "VERN" Duke age 76 of Ames, IA died Monday, Mar 9 at Shirkey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, MO. A gathering of friends and family will be 6:00-8:00PM Friday, Mar. 20 at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care 414 Lincoln Way with a Celebration of Life service 10:30 AM Saturday, Mar 21 at Ascension Lutheran Church.
Vern was born Oct. 22, 1932 in Indianapolis, IN the son of Herbert and Rudell (Coulter) Duke. He graduated from Short Ridge High School and Purdue University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He was a Navy veteran from the Korean Conflict. He married Norma Earle on Aug. 23, 1957. The couple lived in Florence, S.C., and Youngstown, N.Y., before moving to Ames in 1979. Vern worked at Union Carbide and Iowa Beverage before becoming Administrator of Ames Moose Lodge #520 where he retired in December of 2008. He was a member at Ascension Lutheran Church, Moose Lodge #520 where he was a Fellow and later a Pilgrim, Moose Legion, Broad Ripple Lodge#643 A.F. & A.M. Indianapolis, Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis.
Vern is survived by his son, Jim Duke of Iowa City, IA, daughter Cathy and her husband Ken Nordsieck and their children, Josh, Brandon, Emily, and Ryan all of Lexington, MO one sister, Geraldeen Simpson of Phoenix, AZ.
Vern was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Norma, brother, Donald F. Duke, and one sister, Roselene Seward.
Memorials may be directed to Cathy as part of a donation to Ames Moose in Vern's memory where he gave so much of his time making life a little better for others.
Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting the family.
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Visitation
Ames, IA 50010
Service
Ames, Iowa 50010