Duane Marlin Folkers

Duane Marlin Folkers, 90, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Sioux City, Iowa.

A Funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, May 12, 2025, at the Mater Dei Parish, Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (4241 Natalia Way Sioux City, Iowa 51106). Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, IA.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Morningside Chapel (1801 Morningside Ave.), with a parish vigil service at 5:00 pm.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.christysmith.com.

Duane was born November 21, 1934, in Dupree, South Dakota, to Henry A. and Laura H. (Frahm) Folkers. He graduated in 1952 from Hartington High School in Hartington, NE. Duane continued his education at Wayne State College until he was called to serve in the US Army during the Korean conflict. Duane served from September 1953 to August 1955, when he was honorably discharged.

On May 16, 1957, Duane married the love of his life Janice L. Mauch in Verdigre, NE. The couple lived in a myriad of cities, from Niobrara, NE, to Hartington, NE, to Sioux City, IA in 1959, before settling for a while in Des Moines, IA, in 1968. While in Des Moines, Duane attended Drake University from 1970-1972. The couple eventually moved back to, and remained, in Sioux City since 1979. Duane became employed with Western Hills Area Education Agency, where he was the office manager in the payroll department until his retirement, after 20 years with the agency, in 1999. During retirement, he worked for the Sioux City Community School District as a crossing guard at Sunnyside Elementary School.

In his spare time, Duane enjoyed watching old westerns, football, basketball, playing cards (especially Solitaire), crossword puzzles, and making his special chocolate chip cookies for the family. He especially enjoyed family time – Sunday family dinners after mass and attending all his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities.

He was a member of Mater Dei Parish, Church of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Janice Folkers; two daughters, Lora L (Tom) Gilliam and Anne M (Tim) Trudeau; six grandchildren, Erica K. (Matthew) Kampfe, Heather Trudeau, Mackenzie Trudeau, Maya Trudeau, Emily Gilliam and fiancé Adam Salis, and Travis Gilliam and special friend Anna Rayman; and seven great-grandchildren, Zander Doolin, Kahler Schaller, Hadley Prine, Liam Gilliam, Oliver Kampfe, Alicia Gilliam, and Violet Kampfe.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Chad Folkers; granddaughter, Alicia Hummel; sister, Ruby; and her husband, Dick Putney.