Joseph B. Duke

Joseph Duke, age 83, of Indianapolis, passed away on July 4, 2024. He was born on October 13, 1940, in Scottsville, Kentucky, the youngest child to Andrew (Wash) and Ruby Duke. He is preceded in death by his parents and five siblings, Bill, Harry, Sadye, Rachel, Wanda, and his beloved wife Janice.
His favorite hobbies as a child were swimming, basketball, and trading knives. He played basketball in high school, worked as a lifeguard, and once considered joining the Navy to become a scuba diver. He never stopped loving trading knives, which was a passion he had inherited from his Father.
He met his future wife, Janice, in the 7th grade. They began dating in high school and wed on April 2, 1960. They moved to Indianapolis later that year and bought a house in Fountain Square in August of 1961 where they spent their lives together and raised a family.
Joseph was an Industrial Electrician for the Bridgeport Brass Company for 41 years. He served as a union leader for several years before retiring and held a second job for a few years as an insurance salesman.
Joseph and Janice both loved vintage Ford Mustangs and founded the first Mustang Club in Indiana in the early '70s. Joseph also co-founded the Circle City Knife Collectors Club in 1996 and was the club's President at the time of his passing. Joseph is survived by his children Randy, Donna Burns (Michael), and Sharon Duke, his grandchildren Tabitha Keown, Wesley Keown, Miranda Duke, and Dominic Huddleston, and a great-grandson, Carson Avery. Many nieces and nephews also survive him.
A celebration of life will be held on July 20, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Simplicity Funeral & Cremation Care, 7520 Madison Ave., Indianapolis.
Arrangements entrusted to Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Care.
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