Duane R. Hibbs

Duane R. Hibbs OGDEN DUNES, IN-Duane Ray Hibbs, age 81, resident of Ogden Dunes, IN for 54 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep in Ann Arbor, MI on November 10, 2017. Duane was born in Anthon, IA to Phaene Gottfried Hibbs and Orva Fjelland Hibbs, on July 19, 1936. He is survived by his loving wife, Leonore Torode Hibbs, known as Lee, whom he married on September 1, 1962; sons: David (Linda) Hibbs of Ann Arbor, MI and Brian (Stephanie) Hibbs of Oshkosh, WI; daughters: Holly Corbett of Grand Blanc, MI and Karen (Wayne) Brehob of Livonia, MI; grandchildren: Derek (Daniela), Ryan, and Jamie Hibbs; Joshua and Jacob Corbett; Austin and Elise Brehob; and Connor, Kendall and Kylie Hibbs; his brothers: Larry (Susan) Hibbs of Springville, IA, and Thomas Hibbs (Betty Gumbel-Hibbs) of Frankfort, IL; sister, Barbara (William) Shelton of Chariton, IA; and his brother-in-law, Eugene (Mary Lyndell) Torode of Granbury, TX. Duane graduated from Chariton, IA, High School in 1954. In Chariton he was well known for the many years he had multiple newspaper routes on his bike and helped manage the local newspaper distribution office. He enjoyed many years of camping in Boy Scouts. While a senior, he was awarded the state's highest honor for heroic deeds, the Valor Award, by the Governor of Iowa for rescuing a friend who fell through thin ice while ice skating. He received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State College (now University) in 1958 where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and graduated from the University of Chicago with an MBA in 1981. He earned a Professional Engineer License in Indiana in 1964 and was employed by Inland Steel Co., East Chicago, IN as an electrical engineer, General Foreman, and Assistant Superintendent of the Electrical Department and of Process Control. He retired from Inland in 1985 after more than 27 years and then continued working 12 more years at the Midwest Steel Division of National Steel as Senior Process Engineer until retiring again in 1996. Early in his career he served in the Armed Forces as a First Lieutenant, Signal Corps. He was a long time member of the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in which he was a Life Senior Member, Board member, and Chairman, serving over 47 years. He also helped build many Habitat for Humanity houses in the Mississippi Delta. In Ogden Dunes he was very involved in community activities. He served on the town board as President and many years on the Plan Commission and Water Board. As a member of the Ogden Dunes Community Church for over 50 years, he served as deacon, elder, Chairman of Property and Finance, and President of the Corporation. Duane was a Lions Club officer, Captain of the Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Dept., and involved in the Historical Society, Home Association, Prime Timers, and bridge and poker clubs. He was the founder and host of the "Cholesterol Club" a group of Wednesday evening tennis players who, for 15 years, knocked the cholesterol out of their bodies by playing doubles tennis, and then replaced it with bratwurst and beer on Duane's deck. He enjoyed the beauty of the dunes and walked or ran almost every day in all weather. Duane was an extremely active person. He climbed the Grand Teton mountain, played volleyball and tennis, sailed and swam in Lake Michigan, and skied downhill and cross country. He completed the Chicago Marathon and several triathlons. He was very competitive in his age group and his most recent running trophy was the Calumet Striders Gold Cup Series 1st place for winning the most races in the 75-79 age division for 2014. It was delivered to him in the hospital following a serious fall on the ice in January 2015. That following spring, Duane and most of his family competed in the Hobart Brickyard Race. He was the only one in his age group to finish the race. Duane was perhaps the happiest riding his bike 500 miles across Iowa with 22,000 other bikers once a year on RAGBRAI with his relatives. He did this 18 times after age 60. Duane loved his family and all people. In fact he never met anyone he didn't like. He was hard-working and thrifty and kept tons of records on everything. He gave huge hugs to his family and smiles to everyone. His formula for financial success was "old cars and state schools." Duane enjoyed mathematics and tutored his grandchildren at "Papa School" when they visited. He was very proud of his wife, children, and grandchildren and passed on his skills in fixing things and managing choices, and his love for travel, physical activity, and ice cream! A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 27, 2018 (Memorial Day Weekend), at 2:00 PM at the Ogden Dunes Community Church, 115 Hillcrest Rd., Ogden Dunes IN (219) 762-1184. For condolences and memories, login to Facebook, search for "Remembering Duane Hibbs", and click on the link "Remembering Duane Hibbs". In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: "Porter County Community Foundation/ODHS Endowment Fund" (Ogden Dunes Historical Society) 115 Hillcrest Rd, Ogden Dunes, IN 46368 OR The Lions Club of Ogden Dunes 115 Hillcrest Rd, Ogden Dunes, IN 46368.