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Duane L. Laaker, 83

Duane L. Laaker, 83, of Fremont, formerly of Nickerson, died Tuesday, January 15, 2013, in the A.J. Merrick Manor in Fremont.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, January 18, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church north of Arlington. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont. Interment will be in Memorial Cemetery in Fremont with military honors by the American Legion Post 71 of Arlington.

Duane L. Laaker was born July 2, 1929, in rural Washington County to Albert and Vera (Echtenkamp) Laaker. He was baptized on July 21, 1929, and confirmed on May 9, 1943, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church near Arlington. He attended Telbasta, Lallman, St. Paul’s Lutheran and Brinkman Schools.

He served in the United States Air Force from Sept. 1950 to Nov. 1953.

On Nov. 20, 1955, he married Ila Jean Nissen at the Westside Methodist Church in Oakland. The couple farmed north of Fontanelle for 37 years until 1995 when they moved into Fremont.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington, and also a member of the Nickerson Lions Club. He was a member of Arlington’s American Legion Post 71.

After retirement, he enjoyed having coffee with friends at the coffee shop in Nickerson and at HyVee and McDonalds in Fremont.

He is survived by his wife, Ila; sons, Steven Laaker of Cameron, Mo, and Monte Laaker of Fremont; daughter, Cindy Milks of Fremont; brother, Darrell Laaker of Fremont; and six grandchildren, Matt Milks of Marietta, Ga., Chelsea Milks of Omaha, McKenzie Milks of Fremont, and Dusty, Cody and Dillon Laaker of Fremont.

He was preceded in death by an infant brother, two sisters, three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.

Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Arlington, and the American Cancer Society.