Darrel Duncan

Darrel James Duncan, age 96, of Lancaster, passed into the presence of his Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 13, 2014, at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster. He was born in Iberia, Missouri, on November 11, 1918, the son of Lloyd Bing and Maud (Franklin) Duncan. At the time of his birth, Maud was living in Missouri near her parents while Bing was in the armed forces in Germany during WW I.

Darrel attended school at Beetown and at Bloomington High School through grade nine. Due to his fathers poor health from mustard gas poisoning in WW I, Darrel quit school to help his father on the family farm near Beetown. Darrel was an excellent baseball pitcher and hired out to exhibition games. He also worked for various farmers and construction companies in the Beetown area until he was drafted into the US Army on March 9, 1942, during WW II. Darrel was an excellent marksman and fought in the European theater. He landed on Omaha Beach and was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge for which he received two Purple Hearts and a Presidential Citation. He served in WW II until the war ended.

The most important day of Darrels life was February 14, 1949, when he received the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He had been burdened about his sins and thought he could never be saved because he was such a bad sinner. Through Exodus 13:13, he understood that the Lord Jesus Christ was his substitute and died for his sins.

In 1946, Darrel married Marjorie Okey and she passed away in 1962. To this union was born one daughter, Deborah Duncan Carter, who passed away in 2010. On Nov. 3, 1962, Darrel married Helen Yost and she passed away in 2011. Darrel was given to hospitality and was gifted at Bible preaching. He gathered unto the Lords Name at the Beetown Gospel Hall.

Flowers and landscaping was Darrels favorite occupation. He took a six-week course at the Chicago Floral School of Design in 1947. Over the years he owned and operated floral shops in Fennimore, Lancaster, Prairie du Chien, Madison, and Albuquerque, NM and taught floral design classes. In 1983, he and Helen retired at Cassville, WI, where his yard was a floral masterpiece. They lived there until failing health took them to Lancaster in 2008. Darrel resided at Sunrise Apartments and for two weeks at Orchard Manor Nursing Home until his death.

Darrel is survived by three grandchildren: Chris, Brandie, and Shauntay, and two step-grandchildren: Yolanda and Amy.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives, Marjorie and Helen; daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and John Carter; and brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Mavis Duncan.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Lancaster with Allen Christopherson and Eric McCullough officiating. Burial with military honors was in Beetown Cemetery, Beetown. Family and friends called on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Services and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.