Duane Knight

Duane Alden Knight, son of Benton Wesley Knight and Dorothy Elizabeth (Shimer) Knight, was born June 30, 1929, in Manley, and passed from this life Monday, April 1, 2019, at Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola at 89 years of age.

Duane grew up in the Mount Ayr area and graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1947. He attended NWMSU in Maryville, Missouri.

Duane was united in marriage to Evelyn Edna Steeve on April 15, 1951, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Clarinda, and three children blessed this union, Beverly, Stephen and Mark. Following their marriage, they moved to Des Moines and Duane worked for Noah’s Cleaners for a couple of years. In 1954, they moved to Osceola and purchased the cleaners in Osceola, and owned and operated Knight Cleaners for more than 40 years.

Duane served in the U.S. Naval Reserves from October 1950 to October 1958. He was a very active, 55-year member of the Lions Club, serving both local and state offices. Duane enjoyed camping, fishing, gardening and traveling in later years. Duane retired from the cleaners in the late 90s. He worked for Hardees and Farm Bureau for five years before moving to Winter Haven Village in Pharr, Texas. He moved back to Osceola after about 12 years in Texas. He enjoyed time with family and friends, having his grandkids and great-grandkids together. He will be missed by many.

Those relatives who preceded Duane in death were his wife Evelyn Knight, son Stephen Duane Knight, son Mark Allen Knight, grandson Chad Michael Crenshaw and parents, Benton and Dorothy Knight.

Duane leaves to cherish his memory his daughter, Beverly (Hershel) Sims of Osceola; grandson, Ryan (Robin) Crenshaw of Afton; grandson Nick Crenshaw of Afton; great-grandson Dustin Teas; great-grandson Briar Bowers; great-grandson Caden Crenshaw; great-grandson Joey Johnson; great-grandson Dalton Hines; great-granddaughter Samantha Johnson and her fiancé Josh Laws; great-great-grandson Tracen Lee; sister Mona Fetty of Greenville, Texas; his loving dog Rascal; his extended family from Southern Hills Specialty Care; as well as other relatives and many friends.

Celebration of life will be 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola. Family will be at the funeral home one hour prior to the services to visit with friends. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Osceola. Memorial contributions may be directed to Osceola Lions Club. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com.