Duane E. Webb

Duane E. Webb, age 98, of Hastings, Nebraska, formerly of Arapahoe, Nebraska, passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at Grand Island VA Care Center in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was born in Randolph, Kansas on February 21, 1927 to Harold and Viola (Frazier) Webb.

He attended school in Randolph and Manhattan, Kansas. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17. He served during World War II in the South Pacific as a Seabee on the island of Leyte, Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and returned to Hastings, Nebraska. He worked for Abbots Dairy until going to work for the Nebraska-Kansas Gas Company as a pipe liner.

In April of 1947, he met Joyce Breinig in Cambridge, Nebraska. It was love at first sight. They married in May of 1947. They celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in 2014 just prior to Joyce’s passing.

In 1949, Duane went to work for the Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Company in Hastings, where he advanced to installation and repair supervisor until his retirement in June of 1984. He joined the Modern Methods Company installing background music in businesses throughout central Nebraska until he retired a second time in 1997.

Duane liked being active and involved in many different things. He enjoyed waterskiing at Hastings Lake, bowling in 3 different Hasting’s city leagues; coaching little league baseball; hunting and fishing; taking still and movie pictures of family and friends; collecting beer steins and coo-coo clocks from around the world. However, the favorite activity was for him and Joyce to take off traveling. Whether traveling by car through out the continental United States or by plane to Germany, Alaska, Canada, Austria or Hawaii (7 times), Duane was always ready to go! Duane and Joyce not only renewed their 50th wedding vows in Hawaii, they also celebrated their 15th, 25th, 30th, and 40th anniversaries there.

Duane was a member of the Knights of Pythias and served as Chancellor Commander. In 1962, he joined the Masons and in 1992 joined the Shriners Hospital. He became Potentate of the Tehama Temple at Hastings, Nebraska in 1999. He became a charter member of the Shriners Hospital Legion of Honor in 1997. He was also elected to the Royal Order of Jesters. He remained active in various Shrine groups until his death. He especially enjoyed being a Keystone Kop and a member of the Hill Billys and Camel Herders. He was also a member of the Eastern Star, VFW, American Legion, and the United Methodist Church of Hastings.

Duane was an out-going friendly man who enjoyed the company of most people most of the time. He was known for telling good jokes, pulling funny pranks, and having fun.

Duane was preceded in death by his father, Harold Webb, step-mother Josephine Webb, his mother Viola Ziegler, adopted sister Lane Payne, his wife Joyce, He is survived by his half-brother Gary Ziegler, many nieces and nephews, and his companion, Opal Hamer.

Memorials are suggested to Shriners Hospital for Children, 215 Radio Dr. Ste 100, Woodbury, MN 55125