Duane Eugene Ebben

Duane is beloved and celebrated in memory by Nancy Ebben, his loving wife of 49 years.

Duane is sadly missed and survived by his children, Chad Ebben and Merissa Didrickson (Michael), and his cherished grandchildren, Riley Schwarztrauber, Tristan Didrickson, and Elsie Ebben. He is also survived by his loving mother Wanda Ebben and sister Terri Schmidt. Preceded in death by Father Duane “Red” Ebben.

Born in Lincoln, NE, Duane graduated from Northeast Highschool in 1968. He joined the U.S. Navy and served as an electrician on the U.S.S Dixie during the final years of the Vietnam war. He married his sweetheart Nancy in December of 1972. Together, Duane and Nancy built a beautiful family and a life filled with travel and relaxation at their weekend home on Rainbow Lake.

Although Duane worked professionally at Pfizer for 20+ years, his lifelong passion and second fulltime job was a self-employed master woodworker making one of a kind custom furniture and cabinetry, which can only be described as art. Words cannot do justice to the masterpieces that came out of his shop.

Duane also loved traveling, photography, firearms, craft beer, classic rock and was an avid hot rod enthusiast. Duane never knew what it was to rest. Until the cancer forced him to slow down, he never knew what it was to be too old or too tired to do anything. Duane’s favorite past time in his final years was spending time with his beloved grandchildren. When asked to describe grandpa, the grandchildren said he was “smart, silly, caring, persistent, funny, strong, helpful, creative and hardworking”. He will be greatly missed and forever in our hearts.

To respect Duane’s wishes, no viewing/funeral will be held. Friends/family are invited to share memories at a casual, graveside Celebration of Life on Friday, April 16th at 2pm at Lincoln Memorial Park when the headstone and cremains are placed. Please meet at Gate 2, 15 minutes prior, where we will line up and process back to the graveside. There will be a Dessert Reception to follow the Graveside Service at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, in the Chapel.

In lieu of gifts/flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the NORD - National Organization for Rare Disorders https://rarediseases.org/donate