Duane C. Meling, age 92, of Cylinder, Iowa, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2024, at his home, the same house where he was born. Memorial services will be 10:30 am on Saturday, July 20, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Depew, with burial of ashes in the South St. John’s Cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 åçpm Friday, July 19, at the church. Duane’s service will be live streamed via the Lentz Funeral Home website.
Duane Meling, the son of Theodore and Sadie (Naig) Meling, was born on July 8, 1931, on the family farm north of Cylinder. After attending a country school, he attended and graduated from Emmetsburg High School in 1950. After high school, he farmed with his dad and helped other farmers. Duane attended Iowa State in Ames for a year before serving his country in the Army in 1952. He was stationed in Northern Japan during the Korean War. On July 9, 1966, Duane was united in marriage with Ilomae Nieman at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Earlville, Iowa.
Duane continued to farm and was a rural letter carrier. The Meling family attended many state and national conventions for the Rural Letter Carriers, where many friendships were developed. He was a member of the Cylinder Lions Club, Emmetsburg VFW, Sons of Norway, and Farm Bureau. Duane was a lifetime active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and had served in various leadership roles. He enjoyed participating in antique tractor rides, cards, table tennis, golf, bowling league, and refereeing basketball. Throughout his life he traveled with family to all 50 states, plus Norway and Japan. For more than ten years, he and his wife have been wintering at Sierra del Saguaro in Apache Junction, AZ. What Duane loved most was spending time with his wife, son, daughter, grandchildren, and other family members. Duane’s jovial demeanor and cheery smile will be missed by all.
Left to cherish Duane’s memory are his loving wife of almost 58 years, Ilomae; children, Daryl (Yonghwa) Meling of Champaign, IL and Diane (Keith) Van Kleek of Terril; grandsons, Joshua and Daniel Meling; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Arlene Buenger, Mae Place, Theora Meling, Clarice McFadden, and Myrna Foley; and an infant brother, Bernhard. We celebrate that Duane was and is a believer in Jesus Christ and eternal life.
Memorials made in Duane’s name may be directed to the Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps or to a general memorial fund. The Lentz Funeral Home in Algona is serving the family. Condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com.
