Duane Gilleland (2021)
GILLELAND, HARDIN, NELLIS
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:14
Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, February 3, 2021Duane Gilleland, 87, passed away peacefully in his sleep after a brief battle with COVID-19 in Tucson, Ariz.
Duane was born on Oct. 12, 1933, at Iowa Methodist Hospital to Cresslie and Helen Gilleland (Nellis). He grew up on the family’s 40-acre farm just west of Winterset. Duane was very active in sports at Winterset High School, lettering on the Boys “A-Squad” Basketball squad and the Varsity Football team.
He joined the Air Force in 1951, serving with distinction in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He was proud to be Master Sergeant for NATO, and the Strategic Air Command. During his military career, he had the opportunity to travel to many places around the world including Japan, England, German, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece, and Greenland.
The week before Duane was to report for Basic Training in 1951, he met Carolyn Hardin in Indianola. They continued their relationship through letters, and were married while Duane was on leave prior to being sent to Japan. He was greatly looking forward to their 70th wedding anniversary in 2022. Together, they had five children. Because of his military commitments, the family moved often, living in Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Arizona, and Germany.
After retirement from the military in 1971, Duane continued his legacy of service, working for the State of Iowa and the Winterset Water Treatment Plant. He had a deep love for his home town, and was elected to the Board of Directors for the City of Winterset in 1985. He was also thrilled to play Santa Claus for the annual Christmas celebration for several years.
Fully embracing retirement, Duane and his wife spent many years traveling the country in their RV; they enjoyed an active social life, meeting new and old friends along the way. Duane often acted as Camp Manager and was selected as the Good Sam Wagon Master for several years.
In 2016 Duane was nominated for the Hy-Vee Honor Flight for Korean and Vietnam veterans. He was thrilled to join the group on a tour of Washington DC that included the Vietnam War Memorial.
In July 2020, Duane moved to Tucson during the height of the Coronavirus. He loved sitting in the sun, watching the national news, and walking Henry the dog around the block on a daily basis. Although he was very careful during the pandemic, he was exposed to COVID after a fall in his home, resulting in a hospital stay.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Cresslie and Helen; his sister, Ruby; brothers, Marvin and Larry; daughter, Teresa; and granddaughter, Shawna. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Carolyn (Osceola); sons, Dennis (Linda) of Oklahoma City, Randal (Martha) of Osage Beach, Mo., and Duane Jr. (Lisa) of Tucson, Ariz.; daughter, Chris (Jim) of Osceola; son-in-law, John of DeSoto; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren with one on the way.
Due to COVID-19 there will be no services at this time; a memorial service will take place in the future.
Transcriber's note: Burial place will be in the Worthington Cemetery, Madison County, Iowa.
Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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