✦ ✦ ✦
He was born, the oldest of four children, on July 2, 1929, in rural Washington County, Nebraska to Albert and Vera (Echtenkamp) Laaker. He was baptized on July 21, 1929 and confirmed on May 9, 1943 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church near Arlington, Nebraska. He attended Telbasta, Lallman, St. Paul's Lutheran and Brinkman Schools. Duane served in the United States Air Force from Sept. 1950 to Nov. 1953. He married Ila Jean Nissen on Nov. 20, 1955 at the Westside Methodist Church of Oakland, Nebraska. The couple farmed north of Fontanelle, Nebraska for 37 years, until 1995 when they moved into Fremont.
He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (north of Arlington), and also a member of the Nickerson Lions Club. He was a member of Arlington's American Legion Post 71. After retirement, he enjoyed having coffee with friends at the coffee shop in Nickerson and at HyVee and McDonalds in Fremont.
Survivors: wife – Ila
2 sons – Steven Laaker of Cameron, Missouri
Monte Laaker of Fremont
1 daughter – Cindy (Laaker) Milks of Fremont
1 brother – Darrell Laaker of Fremont
6 grandchildren – Matt Milks of Marietta, GA.; Chelsea Milks of Omaha, McKenzie Milks of
Fremont; Dusty, Cody, and Dillon Laaker of Fremont
Duane was preceded in death by an infant brother, his parents, two sisters, three brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law.
The funeral service will be 11 AM Friday (January 18, 2013) at St. Paul's Lutheran Church north of Arlington with the Rev. Rick Kanoy and Rev. Jason Duley. The committal in Memorial Cemetery, Fremont, will follow the luncheon. Military Honors at the graveside will be rendered by the American Legion Post 71 and VFW Post 8332 of Arlington. Visitation at the Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont will be on Thursday (Jan. 17, 2013) from 4 to 8 PM, with the family present from 6 to 8 PM. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the American Cancer Society.
He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (north of Arlington), and also a member of the Nickerson Lions Club. He was a member of Arlington's American Legion Post 71. After retirement, he enjoyed having coffee with friends at the coffee shop in Nickerson and at HyVee and McDonalds in Fremont.
Survivors: wife – Ila
2 sons – Steven Laaker of Cameron, Missouri
Monte Laaker of Fremont
1 daughter – Cindy (Laaker) Milks of Fremont
1 brother – Darrell Laaker of Fremont
6 grandchildren – Matt Milks of Marietta, GA.; Chelsea Milks of Omaha, McKenzie Milks of
Fremont; Dusty, Cody, and Dillon Laaker of Fremont
Duane was preceded in death by an infant brother, his parents, two sisters, three brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law.
The funeral service will be 11 AM Friday (January 18, 2013) at St. Paul's Lutheran Church north of Arlington with the Rev. Rick Kanoy and Rev. Jason Duley. The committal in Memorial Cemetery, Fremont, will follow the luncheon. Military Honors at the graveside will be rendered by the American Legion Post 71 and VFW Post 8332 of Arlington. Visitation at the Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont will be on Thursday (Jan. 17, 2013) from 4 to 8 PM, with the family present from 6 to 8 PM. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the American Cancer Society.