Theodore Albert Duensing

DUENSING - Theodore Albert "Ted", died Friday October 23, 2009. A celebration of Ted-retired Peabody Coal Co. manager, devoted and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather- was held Monday at St. Matthews United Methodist Church. Ted was born May 3, 1932, the youngest child of Albert Duensing and Emily Thompson Duensing. He spent his formative years in Broken Arrow, moving with his family to Okmulgee as a teen-ager. Ted was a center on Okmulgee High School's 1947 state-championship football team and graduated from Okmulgee in 1949. After attending the University of Oklahoma, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a communications specialist in the Korean conflict and at other points in the Asian Pacific. After returning to civilian life, he attended the University of Tulsa, graduating with a B.A. in business administration in 1959, the first member of his family to earn a college degree. Ted then followed a long line of Duensing family members into employment in the coal industry. He served Peabody Coal Co. for nearly 30 years as a preparation engineer and manager in Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana. Afterward, he owned and operated two Daylight Donut Shops in Tulsa for more than 10 years. While in Okmulgee, Ted met Edna Louise Jackson, the love of his life. He and Lou were married on January 2, 1953, and shared three children and their offspring during 54 years of marriage. Ted's heart was broken when he lost Lou to cancer in March 2007. In his final years, Ted was slowed by a variety of physical ailments as he tried to adjust to life without her. Ted also was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Orville Duensing. He is survived by his sister, Yuvonne "Bonnie" Speraw; his sisters-in-law, Carolyn Tanner, Virginia Duensing, and Sue Ann Mount; daughter Emily Duensing and her husband, Ted Bakamjian, of Tulsa; son, Dr. Ted W. Duensing and his wife, Debbie, of Jacksonville, AR; son, Scott Duensing and his wife, Brenda, of Tulsa; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, whom he loved and who loved him. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to the St. Matthew's United Methodist Church Choir or to the charity of your choice. Services were held Monday, October 26, 2009, at St. Matthews United Methodist Church. Moore's Southlawn 663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com Theodore Albert "Ted" Duensing