Arthur Dean Duhachek

Arthur Dean Duhachek was born during a snowstorm on April 20, 1941, to Joseph Clarence William and Rose Tillie (Pospisil) Duhachek in Norfolk, Nebraska. He was baptized and confirmed in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Newman Grove, Nebraska. Attending school in Newman Grove, he graduated in 1958. It was rumored that he had a BB gun, as windows in the barn and other places would get mysteriously broken. Art was always building something, and he would irritate his father by using his tools, but he would never put them away. As he always enjoyed “messing around with cars,” he attended Milford Technical College and graduated in 1962 with a degree in Automotive. Art married Janice Ann Bennett on December 27, 1961, at the Methodist church in Smithland, Iowa. The couple was blessed with five sons. They lived in Crescent, Iowa, from 1965 until 1972, when they moved to Neola, Iowa. Art was one of the first group of instructors at Iowa Western Community College in 1967, where he taught Automotive until 1975. Art and Janice also owned and operated AJ Auto Service in Neola, Iowa. While living in Neola, he was active in Boy Scouts and served on the city council. He used his booming bass voice in the Neola Community Choir and various church choirs. On July 14, 1990, Art married Mary Lee Baker at the Church of the Nazarene in Council Bluffs. Art was sergeant of the security guards at US West buildings and at a manufacturing company and held a few other jobs before retirement. Art and Mary joined Church of God in 1993. They attended numerous Feasts of Tabernacles held at various places including Canada, Florida, Colorado, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Missouri, which they greatly enjoyed visiting. Art was always thinking of new ideas or making tools to streamline processes or improve designs. He was known to tell a good story, and tell it well. He enjoyed polkas, murder mystery novels, “Mysteries at the Museum”, movies, and travel. He loved to spend time shooting and tinkering with cars (but not the new ones!) Until his health prevented it, he never missed his grandchildren’s performances and birthday parties. Art died on Friday, July 28, 2017, at home in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the age of 76 years, 3 months, and eight days. Art was preceded in death by his parents; his infant son, Keith Lee; his brother-in-law, William Kralik, Jr; and his daughter-in-law, Jackie Duhachek. He is survived by his wife, Mary Duhachek of Council Bluffs; children, Mark (Tammy) Duhachek of Council Bluffs; Duane Duhachek of Oakland; Kirk (Asure) Duhachek of Omaha, NE; Scott (Sue) Duhachek of Oakland; Michael (Susie) Baker of Colorado Springs, Co; Michelle (Matt) Clayton of Council Bluffs; and David Baker of Council Bluffs; daughter-in-law, Ashley Baker of Glenwood; 12 grandchildren, Tia, Brock, and Nika Duhachek; Aaron (Lindsay) Duhachek; Calvin, Anna, and Eric Duhachek; Devin Wright and Michaela Baker; Jacqueline, Christian, and Colin Baker; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Caryl Jean Kralik of Newman Grove, NE; and many other relatives and friends.