Duane Hiller 1930-2009

HILLER NIELSEN FERRIN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 1/2/2010 at 15:26:49

Sioux City Journal
23 November 2009

ONAWA, Iowa -- Duane Hiller, 79, of Onawa, formerly of Washta, Iowa, came home to rest unexpectedly, but peacefully, in his sleep on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.

A celebration of Duane's life will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Meadow Star Church in rural Washta, with Pastor Bill Cotten and the Rev. Angela Gafford Asmus officiating. Burial will immediately follow in Grand Meadow Cemetery, with a military flag presentation by the American Legion, Irvin-Powell Post No. 283 of Washta. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Pearson Funeral Home in Onawa.

Duane was born on Nov. 8, 1930, to Forrest and Lena (Nielsen) Hiller. He graduated from Grand Meadow High School in 1949 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army from October of 1952 until he was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in July of 1954. His military service included time in the Korean War working as a surveyor.

He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Ferrin, on June 27, 1954 at Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church in rural Marcus, Iowa, and this past year, they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. Duane and Shirley never traveled far from their roots. A life-long farmer, Duane spent the next 40 years raising cattle and crops on the family farm. He also spent 24 years as a school bus driver for the Grand Meadow and Marcus School Districts.

He was active in the Meadow Star Church, the Cherokee County Conversation Board, the Cherokee County tax board and served as president on the Pierson Elevator Board for several years. After living on the family farm for 72 years, Duane and Shirley moved to Onawa in September of 2003 and became immediately entrenched in the community, joining the Onawa Country Club and attending Onawa United Methodist Church as well as many West Monona school activities.

Duane is survived by his wife, Shirley; a daughter, Cindy and her husband, Gary of Ozawkie, Kan.; a son, Jeff and his wife, Katie of Olathe, Kan.; a son, Steve and his wife, Joan of Onawa, Iowa; two grandchildren in Onawa, Jessica and Jennifer and three in Olathe, Jack, Anna and Sarah. Additional family include numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Julie; his parents; and a sister, Helen Campbell of Royal Oak, Mich.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established for a student-athlete scholarship fund in Duane and Shirley's name or donations could also be made to the American Heart Association.