Duane Verni Hatch

Duane was born February 17, 1927 in Alva, Oklahoma to parents Richard Verni Hatch and Lottie Carberry Hatch. At the age of eleven he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior. While still in high school he enrolled in an Army program for exceptional students. The army sent him to Kansas State College, Yale University, and the University of Minnesota. At the end of World War II, the Army sent him to Japan as an interpreter. Corporal Duane Hatch was honorably discharged on January 17, 1947. Afterward, he was called to pastor his first church in Syracuse Kansas, and was subsequently licensed to preach. This sparked a desire in Duane to enroll at Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis. There he met fellow student Lois Elizabeth Longard. They married on August 16, 1952. Both then graduated with Bachelor’s Degrees in 1953. A small group on the west coast then contacted Duane via the college hoping to form a new church. Subsequently, Duane became the founding pastor for Grace Baptist Church of White Salmon, Washington where he served from 1957 to 1962. This church has continued to thrive to this day. Next he served as an associate pastor at Harbor Baptist in Aberdeen, Washington (now Central Park Baptist).

After moving to Rockford, Illinois to be closer to family, Duane worked as the manager for Sandy’s restaurant on East State Street. In following years he would work as a supervisor at National Lock, the parts manager at Main Material Handling, and for many years as a computer typesetter at Express Printing.

After Lois died in 1985, Duane met Vanie Hildreth at Pelley Road Christian Fellowship where he served as assistant pastor. They married on October 7, 1989 at Pelley Road.

In following years, Duane went on to serve as a co-pastor with Cornerstone Fellowship. After Cornerstone merged with Faith Community church he continued to serve as a co-pastor. Upon his retirement from ministry, Duane and Vanie began attending First Love Fellowship in Rockford, where Don Wynn is pastor.

Throughout his life, Duane loved God, loved writing, and was always vocally and publicly passionate about his faith.

Duane’s love for writing has included work on a number of church bulletins, newsletters, and web publications. It is a passion that he shared with his siblings, his children, and his nephews and nieces. He was known for frequently sharing wisdom in the form of preaching, prophetic discernment, and testimonies.

Duane is survived by his wife Vanie, four children: Stephen (“Steve,” spouse Geralyn), Terrence (“Terry,” spouse Brenda), Karen Delaporte (spouse Edward IV), and Keith. Also surviving are step children: Sam Hildreth (spouse Debbie), and Connie Peterson (spouse Mark).

Duane is also survived by siblings Dean, Lillian, Edwin, Lila, Elmer, David, and Donna.

Duane is also survived by 27 grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

Grandchildren are: Michelle Rhodes, Tanya (spouse Darrell) Rodgers, Jonathan (spouse Kiley) Hatch, Justin (spouse Paige) Hatch, Daniel Hatch, Sarah (spouse Paul) Holmes, Edward (spouse Joanna) Delaporte V, Benjamin Delaporte, and Elise Delaporte.

Great grandchildren are: Samantha (spouse Demetrey) Adams, Anthony Kiepprien, Jordan Rodgers, Tyson Rodgers, Alonzo Rodgers, Levi Rodgers, Rachelle Holmes, Paul Holmes II, Josiah Holmes, Elizabetta “Lisa” Holmes, Elisha Holmes, Edward “Teddy” Delaporte VI, Doris “Dee Dee” Delaporte, and William “Liam” Delaporte.

Great great grandchildren: Demetrey “DJ” Adams, DeMario Adams, Rio Kiepprien, and Nico Kiepprien.

Duane was predeceased by his first wife Lois, his parents Richard and Lottie, and siblings Kermit, Victor, Fredrick, Ronald, and Donald.

In lieu of flowers any memorial donations should go to the family.

Visitation for Duane will be Tuesday August 17, 2021 from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Sunset Funeral Home 8800 N. Alpine Road in Machesney Park; service to celebrate Duane's life will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.

It's about learning to dance in the rain!"