Duane Carl Blachnik

CELEBRANT
Fr. Mathew Vazhappilly
MUSIC
Organist ~ Georgianne Pravecek
Soloist ~ Kelli Mehlhaf
“One Day at a Time”
“Sweet Hour of Prayer”
Congregational Hymns
“Gift of Finest Wheat”
“On Eagle’s Wings”
ACTIVE & HONORARY URNBEARERS
All of Duane’s Children, Stepchildren,
Grandchildren & Great-Grandchildren
All of His Pinochle Playing Friends
All of His Many Trucking Friends,
Especially Harold, Leland, Joe & John
Duane Carl Blachnik was born Monday, April 17, 1944 in Yankton, South Dakota to Carl and Viola (Blaha) Blachnik. He attended country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Scotland High School in 1962. After high school, he served two years in the Army Reserves and nine years in the Springfield National Guard unit. Duane married Mary Ann Murray on September 24, 1983.  Duane started his 40-plus year career in trucking as a truck driver for Ray Diede. He drove for many companies over the years: he drove flatbed for Joe Drotzmann, and for seven years, he and his wife, Mary Ann, drove as a team for All-American, Elton Wek, Alumax and last for Ron Schoellerman. He was an excellent driver and his logbooks were always in A1 shape. He always kept in contact with his driving buddies and some of them called him daily.  He knew every mile marker, Interstate roadway and where all the truck stops were. For the past ten years, Duane was in failing health and on nice days he would head uptown in his chair to play pinochle at the Hide-Out and VFW. He loved winning a couple of bucks! God Bless you guys!! Duane passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the Avera Yankton Care Center at the age of 67 years.
Duane is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mary Ann of Scotland; his son Charles (Krickett) Blachnik and granddaughter Kadi of Granite Falls, North Carolina; his daughter, Heather (Jay) Weeks and three grandchildren, Olivia, Owen and Zeb, of Hickory, North Carolina; his stepchildren: Jeff, Scott, Julie and Mark; three step-granddaughters: Bridgett, Brianna, and Alexis; two step-great-grandsons: Teyton and Keatan; two sisters: Renee (Loren) Mehlhaf of Mitchell and Diana (Roger) Vanness of Parkston; three nieces and two nephews; his special “Auntie Dee”; many cousins; his best friends Harold (Delores) Barkl of Cle Elum, Washington and Leland (Barb) Papik of Mission Hill; and his pet, Emma Louise, whom he loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Viola Blachnik.