Duane L. Blankenship, 87, of Pender, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, March 5, 2012 at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender, Nebraska. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 9, at 10:30 a.m. at the Covenant Church of Pender with the Rev. Dan Springer officiating. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Munderloh~Smith Funeral Home in Pender. Interment will be in the Rosehill Cemetery in Pender, Nebraska.

Duane was born on September 9, 1924 in Missouri Valley, Iowa, the son of Roy and Doris (Bollin) Blankenship. He grew up in Omaha. Duane Married June Hill on January 21, 1945. He served in the United States Army during World War II, enlisting on February 16, 1943, and being honorably discharged on December 11, 1945. Duane worked for Ace Moving, and then OPPD for thirty years. The couple moved to Pender in 1979. He enjoyed Country Music, fishing, playing horseshoes and western movies, especially John Wayne Movies.

Duane is survived by daughter Sharon (Albert) Maul of Pender, Nebraska, sons: Michael (Janet) Blankenship of Crystal City, Missouri and Timothy (Jody) Blankenship of Omaha, Nebraska, granddaughters: Tammy (Daniel) Maul Bodlak of Pender, Nicole (Brian) Daugherty of DeSota, Missouri, Alisha (Erik) Wist of Atlanta, Georgia, Jackie Blankenship of Crystal City, Missouri and Michelle Blankenship of Chicago, Illinois, great-grandchildren: Alexis, Mason and Amaryn Bodlak of Pender, NE, Ethan and Alex Wist of Atlanta, GA, and Gracie Daugherty of DeSota, MO. He is also survived by sisters Ione Erickson of Golden, CO and Loma (Bill) Pilant of Bennington, NE.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, June, son James and Daughter Sandra, and brothers Keith, Russell and Edward.