DUANE ARVEL PERRY 1924-1946

PERRY, BELDING, KILCHER

Posted By: Jeanie Belding (email)
Date: 1/22/2014 at 23:05:31

Source: The Fayette County Union, October 24, 1946

WAUCOMA VETERAN KILLED SATURDAY NIGHT IN UPSET
WAUCOMA - A tragic accident Saturday night, Oct. 19, two miles from Jackson Junction, in Winneshiek county, claimed the life of Arvel Duane Perry, and seriously injured his wife, when the car he was driving rolled over twice when he tried to avoid hitting a skunk. The young people, with LaVerne Belding and Mark Tomasek, were returning from the football game at Fayette, having taken friends to Calmar. Duane met almost instant death but the two riding in the back seat were not hurt beyond cuts and bruises. Mrs. Perry was taken to the hospital at New Hampton, being badly cut and bruised, it having taken seven men to lift the car from over her.
Arvel Duane Perry was born at Stapleton, Oct. 26, 1924, lacking seven days of being 22 years old, to Oscar and Agnes Kilcher Perry. One brother, Vernon, at home, also survives. Duane was a resident of Waucoma all of his life except five years and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Stapleton, in 1940. He received his education in the Waucoma schools, graduating in the class of 1942. He started college at Luther college at Decorah, but quit to enlist in the army in December, 1942, receiving most of his training in California. He received his pilot wings in Arizona in 1944, and served 13 months in the Aleutians. He attained the rank of first lieutenant.
After his discharge he assisted his father in rebuilding the home. Three weeks before his death, on Sept. 28, he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Belding, a graduate nurse of St. Mary's hospital, Rochester, Minn., who was a childhood sweetheart.
Duane enrolled at Luther college to take up where he left off when he enlisted in the air corps.
Besides his wife, the parents and brother, he is survived by relatives and a host of friends.
A military funeral was held Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Federated church, with Rev. Glen McMichael, Waverly, in charge, the same minister who had officiated at the wedding three weeks ago. Pallbearers, all ex-servicemen, were Jack Balk, George Roberts, Neili Webster, Jr., Billy Brannon, Birchard C. Hoy, and Delford Milbrandt, with burial in the Waucoma cemetery.