John "Duane" Thatcher

SIOUX CITY | John "Duane" Thatcher, 87, of Sioux City died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at a local hospital after a brief illness. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev. Sheryl Ashley officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday with the family present 5-8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m. all at the church. Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is handling arrangements. John "Duane" was born June 21, 1928 in Sioux City the son of LeRoy R. and Florence I. (Freeman) Thatcher. He graduated from Leeds High School in 1946. On June 5, 1949 he married Helen L. Smith. Together they raised 3 children, Charles, Sheryl and Mark. Duane was employed by I.P.S for 40 years. He and Helen also owned the Leeds Econowash from 1970 to 1984. Following his retirement from I.P.S. in 1985, Duane and Helen spent many winters in Texas. During that time they built 76 houses in Mexico. Their charity was called Casa y Mas (House and More). During the winters spent in Texas, Duane played guitar and sang at many jam sessions. Duane loved to travel. He took his family all over the United States. He also loved their cabin at Lake Mazaska in Fairbault, MN where he enjoyed swimming and fishing. At home, one could find him working in his garage on stock cars and antique cars. Duane was a member and past president of Siouxland Antique Cars. He will be remembered for his work ethic, his sense of humor, his story and joke telling, his ability to be a friend to anyone, and his handlebar mustache. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Helen; a son and his wife, Charles and Mary Thatcher of Breda, IA; a daughter and her husband, Sheryl and Greg Cripps of Sioux City; 3 sisters, Ann Campbell of Iowa City, Joan (Bob) Stein of Lino Lakes, MN and Jan (Jim) of Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island, B.C.; 9 grandchildren, Matt (Diana) Thatcher, Carrie (Nathan) Caviness, Amy (Steve) McCargar, John (Jessica) Thatcher, Michelle (Jeff) Coon, Laura Cripps, Paula (Santos) Cripps-Vallejo, Katie (Keith) Bouchard and Sloan Westfhoff; 18 great-grandchildren and another on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 daughters in infancy, Kay Ann and Deborah Sue, a son, Mark in 1996, parents-in-law, John and Carrie (Reinders) Smith, brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-law, Dick Campbell, Geneva (Carl) Taute, Bernetta (Ray) Stoos, Clara (Louis) Rogers, Dorothy (Gilbert) Larson, Rosella and Marcella Smith, John, Eugene and Raymond (Nellie) Smith. Memorials may be made in his name to Casa y Mas at Wesley United Methodist Church.