Duane Anthony "Duke" Lamoureux

SIOUX CITY -- Duane A. "Duke" Lamoureux, 86, of Sioux City died Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in Sioux City.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sioux City. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Chapel of Christy-Smith Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be posted at www.christysmith.com .

Duke was born Jan. 17, 1925, in Salix, Iowa, to Henry and Louise Lamoureux. He attended St. Joseph's Elementary and High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Force on April 8, 1943. Duke was a ball turret gunner for a B-17 bomber when he went overseas the first week of August 1944. On his 19th mission, Oct. 6, 1944, over Pelitz, Germany, Duke was wounded in the left leg. He returned to the states Jan. 17, 1945 -- his 20th birthday. He was a staff sergeant spending 30 months on active duty, with seven months overseas.

Duke earned several awards and decorations: Air Crewman Wings, Gunner Wings, Purple Heart, Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European African Middle East Regional Theater Medal and World War II Victory Medal. He participated in the Rhineland, Northern France and Normandy campaigns.

Duke married Patricia Rowe on Nov. 29, 1947, at St. Joseph's Church.

Duke worked on the Missouri river doing construction prior to and after World War II. Duke went to work for the U.S. Post Office as a clerk and later a rural route carrier. He and Patty made many lasting friendships during that time. In 1957 he owned and operated the D&B School Bus Service for the parochial schools of Sioux City while continuing to work for the post office. He retired from the postal service after 30 years of service. He also worked for the public school lunch program for 10 years. Duke and Patty wintered in Weslaco, Texas, for 18 years after retiring and loved being "Winter Texans."

Duke belonged to Boys of '68, Sioux City Eagles and Joker Clown Unit. He played Santa Claus to many families in the area for 20 years. Duke was in many cribbage and horseshoe tournaments.

Duke enjoyed his garden and canning. His specialties were pickles, sauerkraut, tomatoes and horseradish. He was a Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. He was president of the Saturday afternoon Men's Club (Duke and The Boys).

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Patty; his children, Julie (Jim) McGill of Sioux City, Sandy (John) Mansfield of Sioux City, Pat (Sandy) Lamoureux of Sioux City, Tom Lamoureux of Emerson, Neb., Mike (Cindy) Lamoureux of Sioux City, Steve (Julie) Lamoureux of Wayne, Neb., Lori (Mike) Davis of Modesto Calif., and Gerry (Lisa) Lamoureux of Sioux City; 22 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Jean Heidebrink of Le Mars, Iowa, Shirley Copple of Sloan, Iowa, and Charlotte Mook of Arlington, Tenn.; and a sister-in-law, Pauline Lamoureux of Omaha, Neb.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Louise Lamoureux; three sisters, Mary Louise Kallin, Rosie Wilt and Janet Lamoureux; two brothers, Walt Lamoureux and Buddy Lamoureux; and a dear friend, Lawrence Katula.