of Benton, AR
November 5, 1929 - January 23, 2014
Deacon John C. Duke was born to the late John and Dorothy Duke in Mobile, AL on November 5, 1929. He passed away at Saline Memorial Hospital January 23, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. John is preceded in death by his son, Bobby Duke.
John served in the U.S. Navy and worked for Alcoa for forty-two years. He graduated from Springhill College in Mobile, AL. He transferred from Mobile to the Bauxite plant in 1960. Upon retiring from Alcoa, he was ordained a deacon in the Catholic Church and served at Our Lady of Fatima in Benton. He also served as Arkansas' Diaconate Director for five years.
The last twenty-seven years of John's life were characterized by service to alcoholics, addicts, troubled marriages, families in crisis, and counseling those with financial difficulties. He served as a Chaplain for the Saline County Ministerial Alliance delivering death announcements, grieving with suffering families, and taking care of the transient and homeless. His civic service included thirteen years on the Saline Memorial Hospital Board and two terms as chairman of the Saline County United Way.
His main focus in life was to do the will of God and build up the Kingdom of Heaven whenever, wherever, and to whomever that led him.
John is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Annette (Nettie) Duke; children, John Duke, Mike Duke (Stephanie), Mark Duke (Kathy), Darlene Brown (Ralph), Vincent Duke (Lorri), and Marie Duke; eleven grandchildren, Shelby, David, Amy Eric, Jeremy, Bobby, Brian, Dr. Julie Duke, Crystal, Jacob, and Coco Rhodes; eight great-grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends.
There will be a Rosary service at 6:00 PM, Sunday, January 26, 2014. Following the Rosary, a visitation will be held at the church. John's Mass of Resurrection will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Monday, January 27, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Y. C. Irudayaraj and Deacon John Marcheski officiating. Interment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Alexander. Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons: David Duke, Jeremy Massey, Bobby Massey, Eric Brown, Brian Duke and Jacob Duke.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School Fund; 900 W. Cross, Benton, AR 72015 OR Christian Care Clinic; 220 W. South St., Benton, AR. 72015 OR Christian Joint Counsel on Human Needs (CJOHN), 103 E. Elm St., Benton, AR 72015.
Great family man and my sincere condolences go out to the Duke family.
With deepest sympathy,
I remember him and his family as all very special people.
Dear Duke Family, Our thoughts and prayers will be with your precious loving family in the many days and months to come. John and Stan have been close for so long, Mike and Stephanie you know how we love and adore all of your family. Abby went to school with Shelby and she was always fun to be around. Darlene actually labored me with Abby. God Bless and hold you all in his loving arms. I know you all love your Dad very much. What an inspiration to all he came in contact with. deb, stan, and abby
Today I heard the news of John's passing, my first thoughts were of Nettie and family, my next thought was how many lives John had touched and how the world was a better place for many who were blessed with his love, patience and guidance. Thank you, Lord for this kind person, for I also was but one of many.
Nettie and family, I was so sorry to hear of John's passing. I have such great memories of shared meals with ya'll when we were still in Arkansas. Know that you have our prayers. I will let Dad and the girls (laughter . . . we're old women!) know.
Thanks so very much to the Duke Family for sharing John. While I have many memories of John, the favorite is working with him in the Employee Assistance Program. His commitment to helping ALL people was a large part in making that program a success. You are in our prayers and thoughts.
Sincerely,
Dan Henry
USWA 4880
I am so sorry for your loss..My prayers are with the family and friends at this time.
We are so sorry for your loss. Dr. Duke was very special to our family. We will keep you in our prayers.
With Love,
Charlie, Theresa & Pat Farish
Mike & Mark,
Please know that we are so sorry for you loss. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Robert & Judy (Sheridan) Young
Mike and I wanted you to know that your "WHOLE" family is in our prayers while you go this time. We will always remember him with that wonderful smile he had every time we saw him and also all the support and prayers we gave us during Mike's accident and my Dad's death. I am sorry we can't be there today for you but please know we are their in spirit. Love to all,
Mike and Margaret
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the family. John was such a kind and gentle man, and touched so many lives. He surely has a special place in heaven.
I am very sorry for your loss he was an amazing man all who knew him love him
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
All thoughts and prays go to the Duke family
All thoughts and prays go to the Duke family
My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time. I remember years ago when John taught a Fortran programming course to 6 of us recent high school graduates @ Alcoa in the evening after work. He certainly had a lot of patience with us, and the fact that he was willing to give up his free time for us was appreciated. I then worked in his group as a summer engineer doing a programming project. He never made me feel like I was 'just a summer student.' I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone; but I remember him referring to someone as a 'dirty buzzard' with that Mobile, Alabama accent of his. To this day, that makes me smile. May your happy memories and the peace of God comfort you at this time of loss.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
So sorry for your loss
Dearest Darlene and family, so saddened to hear of your fathers passing. Praying for you guys for strength for the coming days.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. May God bless and comfort you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I'm praying for comfort for Mrs. Duke & all the family.
May God's grace and peace comfort each of you at this time.
prayers for all of the family,,,Mr.Duke was a wonderful man he was a mentor to my son Jason Wilson and Jason loved him very much..he was a blessing to many...
I was blessed to have met John when I was working as at the SCSO and he was one of our chaplains. Our interactions were usually a night, and generally involved some hard/stressful situation. Yet his arrival always signaled that help had arrived. He was such a wonderful man. His love for God and for his fellow man were always evident, as was his great love for his family. It is with great affection and even greater respect that I say "Goodbye'. TK
I am so sorry for your loss, praying for family and friends!!!
Our prayers are with the Duke family. John was a great man and will be missed.
Wesley & Mary Cady
Deacon John go rest high on that mountain your work on earth is done and the watch stands relieved, fair winds and following seas ship mate.
our thoughts and prayers are with the family
Vincent and families,
I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family
are in my thoughts and prayers during this sad
time. Mr. Duke was a wonderful man.
God Bless each of you
Ola Bramlett
My deepest sympathy goes out to the Duke family at this time. Your father was was an.amazing man that truely cared for others. My thought and prayers are with you at at this time and I pray you all find inner peace within .
We were so sorry to hear of Mr. Duke's passing. He was one of the good guys. You will be in our prayers.
We will miss this wonderful man very much but remember him with love and thankfulness that we had him in our lives.