Spoon, Duke

Age 79

(veteran)

Duke Spoon, of Arlington, NE, formerly of Elkhorn, passed away at his home, June 7, 2023.

Preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Bertha Spoon. Survived by wife, Dianne; children; Carrie (James) Clifford, Jerrad Spoon, Nathan Spoon, and Melissa (CD) Atwell; 9 grandchildren: Alexis, Jaidyn and Kailye Spoon, Cadence, Cayler, Merrick, and Madalee Atwell, Ava Spoon, and Dalton Spoon; great-grandson, Asher Schmidt; and numerous other family and friends.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Tuesday, 11am, at the Elk City Church, 22829 Elk City Drive, Elk City, NE. Interment with military honors at the Elk City Cemetery. VISITATION: Monday from 4:30-7pm, with family receiving friends from 5-7pm, at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn. Memorials to the MS Foundation.

REICHMUTH FUNERAL HOME 21901 West Maple | (402) 289-2222

#2 Printed in the June 16, 2023 Arlington Citizen

Duke Spoon was born October 6, 1943 in Hamburg, Iowa to Otto and Bertha (Payne) Spoon. He grew up in the Tarkio, Missouri and Shenandoah, Iowa communities and graduated from Shenandoah High School in 1961. Growing up, Duke loved hunting, shooting, fishing, riding his scooter, playing baseball and dirt bike and motorcycle riding. Duke served in the United States Air Force from 1961 until his honorable discharge in 1965.

Duke married Dianne Moen on May 13, 1972 in Omaha, Nebraska, and together they raised four children; Carrie, Jerrad, Nathan, and Melissa. They made their home in Elkhorn, Nebraska from 1972 until 2000, when they moved to Camdenton, Missouri. They bought their ground outside of Arlington, Nebraska in 2003 and have been there since.

Through the years, Duke has worked as Branch Manager for Ralston Purina, was an over-the-road truck driver, established a trucking school in Lamoni, Iowa, and provided trucking services around Des Moines, Iowa. He was a member of the American Legion and was a HOG member.

As busy as he was, Duke loved to go camping and always made time to play baseball or softball with the kids and grandkids, but most of all, he loved riding his motorcycle, especially when it meant he could spend time with his loving wife, Dianne.

Duke was a compassionate, driven, humble man who had an inspiring zest for life. He enjoyed a homecooked meal, listening to rock-n-roll, and watching baseball movies. He always cheered for the underdog, and his favorite color was chrome. Duke had many and multiple longtime friendships, and he always stayed busy. He was constantly mentoring and coaching people, both in sports and in life. If you came to him for advice or help, you may have heard him say, “It’ll cost you 20 bucks”, or tell you “walk by faith, not by sight”, or his favorite saying, “Mosey can handle it!” He cherished his family, from marrying his soul mate, to the birth of his kids and grandkids, and becoming a great grandfather, he loved nothing more. Duke’s life is best summed up with Matthew 25:21, “well done, good and faithful servant.” Duke passed away at his home near Arlington, Nebraska on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at the age of 79 years 8 months and one day. He was preceded in death by his parents Otto & Bertha Spoon and his brother-in-law Ken Moen. Duke is survived by his beloved wife Dianne, children; Carrie (James) Clifford, Jerrad Spoon, Nathan Spoon, and Melissa (CD) Atwell, 9 grandchildren; Alexis, Jaidyn and Kailye Spoon, Cadence, Cayler, Merrick, and Madalee Atwell, Ava Spoon, and Dalton Spoon, great-grandson Asher Schmidt and numerous other family and friends.

Funeral service Tuesday, 11 AM at the Elk City Church, 22829 Elk City Drive, Elk City, NE. Interment with military honors at the Elk City Cemetery. Visitation Monday at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn from 4:30-7 PM with family receiving friends from 5-7 PM. Memorials to the MS Foundation.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave #255204283