Duane Oye

DUANE OYE, 84 Arthur, IL passed away at 4:04 P.M. on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at the Arthur Mennonite Church, 710 East Park St, Arthur, IL.  Pastor Glen Rhodes will officiate.  Burial will follow in the Arthur Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, March 23, 2018 at the church.  The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.

Duane was born on April 13, 1933 in Decatur, IL.  He was a son of Willie B. and Juanita (Thomas) Oye.  He married Faye Ryherd on February 21, 1953 in Arthur, IL.

Survivors include his wife Faye Oye of Arthur, IL, five daughters, Debby Kauffman of Arthur, IL, Sandy Snyder of Arthur, IL, Becky Miller and her husband Dan of Arthur, IL, Kathy Yoder and her husband Cliff of Sullivan, IL and Karen Litteral and her husband Scott of Arthur, IL, 11 grandchildren, Kim Weber and her husband Rob, Kyle Kauffman and his wife Whitney, Jeff Snyder and his fiancé Michelle, Bricen Miller and his girlfriend Magen, Brent Miller and his wife Bethany, Brianne Eads and her husband Treston, Mike Yoder and his wife CJ, Steve Yoder and his wife Meg, Chad Yoder and his wife Maria, Elizabeth Mentzer and Mark Mentzer, and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, William “Bill” Oye, and his twin brother Wayne Oye, and two sons-in-law, DeWayne Snyder and Clifford Kauffman.

Duane graduated from Arthur High School in 1952.  He was a member of the Arthur Mennonite Church, the Moultrie Douglas County Fair Board, Arthur Lions Club and the Arthur Jaycees, and he served on the Arthur Volunteer Fire Department from June of 1963 to October of 1988 when he retired.

Duane had worked as a mechanic at Ascherman Ford Garage in Arthur, IL and drove a school bus for Eads bus service. He then owned and operated a can milk route and then went to work at Benson Creamery in Decatur, IL where he retired with over 20 years of service.  After retirement Duane went to work at the Old School Market and he would haul grain in the fall.  He was currently working at the Great Pumpkin Patch and Homestead Bakery where he started in 2003 and also at the Arthur “Super Clean” Car wash.

Duane loved to work, he was always keeping busy.  He enjoyed woodworking and making things for his family; he had made rocking horses for all of his grandchildren, coat racks and quilt racks.  He was also an avid card player and domino player.  Duane and Faye were also a part of a square-dancing club, the Arthur Alamanders.

Memorials may be made to the Arthur Mennonite Church or to the Arthur Volunteer Fire Department.