Duane H. Kratke

Duane H. Kratke, 67, of Pender, Nebraska passed away Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender, Nebraska.  Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church south of Pender, NE; Pastor Robert Schilling will be officiating.  The visitation will be held on Monday, April 24, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Pender.  Burial with military honors by Pender American Legion, John Rooney Post #55, will be in the St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.  Duane was born on January 24, 1950 in West Point, NE, the son of Harlan and Bernice (Test) Kratke.  He attended Pender High School, graduating in 1968.  After attending college in Milford, NE, Duane joined the United States Army in 1970.  He served in Germany as a Military Policeman until being honorably discharged in 1972.  On February 24, 1973, he was united in marriage to Burdette Daberkow at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Beemer, NE.  To this union four children were born; Anjanette, Anthony, Audrey and Ashley.  As a young man, Duane was listed in the Outstanding Young Men of America.  After farming, he worked at Blue Ox in Pender for 29 years.  Duane was a lifelong and an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, serving on the cemetery board, elder and other church offices.  He was also proud to serve on the color guard of the Pender American Legion, John Rooney Post #55.  Duane enjoyed the music of the 1960’s and classic country, was kind hearted and quick witted, liked playing cards and visiting.  He also was a member of the Bancroft Saddle Club and Lutheran Layman’s League.  Duane enjoyed riding horses, woodworking, traveling and working outdoors on the Kratke Homestead.  Most of all, Duane loved being around his family.  His children and grandchildren brought him great joy.  Duane is survived by his wife of 44 years, Burdette of Pender, NE; son Anthony Kratke of Kansas City, MO; daughters Anjanette (John) Bonham of Hastings, NE, Audrey (Daniel) Celaya of San Diego, CA and Ashley (Brett) Murphy of Denver, CO; grandchildren, Tyson and Allison Bonham and Nayellie Celaya.  He is also survived by his brother, Denis (Lynn) Kratke of Pender, NE; sisters Debra Kratke of Vail, CO and Donna Kratke of South Sioux City, NE; brother-in-law, LeRoy (Joan) Schuetze of West Point, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harlan and Bernice and sister, Diane Schuetze.