Duane K. Baird

He was born on March 15, 1927 in Peoria, IL to Lester and Edna (Hunter) Baird. He married Gladys Marie Thurman on April 28, 1951 and she preceded him in death in 1993. He later married Ulla Schmaeler Jones on April 9, 1994 in Peoria. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Shelton and Donald Baird, one sister, Janet Baird and one brother-in-law, Richard Monti.

Surviving is his wife, Ulla of Dunlap, one step-son, Robert (Ruth) Winchell of East Peoria, two grandchildren, Randy and Ken Winchell, two great-grandchildren, Bobby and Shawna Winchell, one brother, Jack (Joan) Baird of Washington, IL, one sister, Linda Monti of Michigan and several nieces and nephews.

Duane served in the U.S. Navy during W.W. II and was honorably discharged. He worked for Caterpillar Inc. for 35 years in management at the Tech Center in Mossville before retiring in 1981.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 1078 in Dunlap, the German-American Society, the Sand Trappers, the Willow Knolls Golf league and a member of The United Presbyterian Church in Peoria.

Cremation will be accorded and a memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior to the service at Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. The Rev. Dr. Randall Saxon will officiate. Burial of the urn will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the United Presbyterian Church in Peoria. Please visit Duane’s Life Story at www.woolsey-wilton.com.