Duane William Daniel was born August 1, 1930, and grew up on a farm near Crete, Nebraska. When he turned 18, he enlisted in the United States Army. He served in the Korean War, where he earned The Bronze Star and The Purple Heart.

In 1952, two of the most important events in his life occurred: he became Catholic and he married Darlene. When he separated from the Army, he attended Milford Trade School and graduated with a degree in Carpentry. Duane figured out how to get your first house without having a mortgage: build it yourself. He built it on Park Street in Beatrice, completing the basement first so they could live in it while he finished the rest of the house. He did all this in his spare time while working full-time at Store Kraft Manufacturing, where he worked for 40 years.

A family-centered man, Duane loved spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids, as well as deer hunting, woodworking, gardening, traveling, and serving St. Joseph Catholic Church as an acolyte, which he did for over 35 years. He was also an avid Husker football fan. Duane was kind, caring, and hard-working and always put family first. He had a wealth of knowledge and wisdom and shared it freely with all who sought his advice. He was the person who was first in line when someone needed help and the person who liked to pull pranks on people, like the time he parked his car around the corner from their friend Gay’s house and then called them and asked for directions to their house.

Duane died peacefully on March 21, 2025, surrounded by family. He leaves behind his devoted wife of 72 years, Darlene; children, Will (Sue) Daniel, Marty (Greg) Gill, Marina (Sam) Coates, and Trudy (John) Ide; 19 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Frances Daniel; brother, Arnold (Dorothy) Daniel; sister, Laura Conradt; and great-grandson, Clark Coates.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beatrice. Burial will follow at the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with military honors being rendered by the United States Army. The body will lie in state at Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice on Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM with the family greeting relatives and friends from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. A rosary service will take place at the church at 10:30 AM on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic School with the funeral home in charge.

In honor of Duane's caring spirit and enduring legacy, we invite you to share your memories, stories, and photos on his memorial page at www.ghchapel.com, as well as view his funeral service and video tribute. Your contributions will serve as a comforting reminder of the humble, supportive, and generous man that was Duane Daniel.

These services have been entrusted to Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.