John Duker

John Edward Duker, age 68, of Crosslake, MN, passed away Monday, November 20, 2006 at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby, of complications of progressive supranuclear palsy. John was born August 25, 1938 in Orange, California, to Martin and Elsa (Miller) Duker. He served in the US Navy, repairing aircraft radio systems. He spent four years at Cal Poly University, San Louis Obispo. He was united in marriage to Charlene Crilley in 1960 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Orange and they were blessed with 3 children, Sheri, Robert & Nancy. John raised his children as a single parent for 7 years after their divorce in 1970. He worked as a drafting engineer and telecommunications design engineer for Pacific Bell and then as a fiber optics engineer in Los Angeles. He was united in marriage to Margaret Gillett July 1, 1977, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Orange. He was also very active in the Lutheran church, serving on various boards with Faith Lutheran and St. Johns Lutheran Church as well as the building committee for Lutheran High School, Orange County. John was an avid fisherman and aircraft aficionado. He loved music and was a member of a church choir for most of his adult life. John & Margaret moved to Crosslake after John retired in 1999. John was a member of Mission of the Cross Lutheran Church in Crosslake. He also belonged to the Confessional Lutherans, the Crosslake Fish and Game Club, and the NRA. He was a board member at Lord of Life Lutheran School in Baxter, MN, 56425, and would prefer that memorials in his name be made to the school.
John is survived by Margaret, his wife of 29 years; children, Daniel (Nikki) Gray, Kohler, WI, Sheri Haines, Cinnaminson, NJ, Robert (Darce) Duker, Henderson, NV, Brad (Kimberly) Gray, Minneapolis, and Nancy (Ken) Mulderig, Drums, PA; his brother, Lorenz (Glenda) Duker, Lynden, WA; and grandchildren Sean, Lauren, Alex, Janeane, Madelyn, Andrew, Bethany, Nikki, and Madison. His parents and a sister, Malinda Bjcek, preceded him in death.