Duane Flack

MSgt. Duane Oliver Flack, age 89, passed away on September 13, 2025 in Pensacola, Florida. He was born on October 15, 1935 near Dickens Iowa. Internment will be at Dickens Cemetery in Dickens Iowa under the direction of Warner Funeral Home in Spencer Iowa. A Memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church located on Southwest Parkway on Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM. A celebration of life and Veterans ceremony will be held graveside in Dickens Iowa in the summer of 2026.

Duane grew up in the state of Iowa and graduated 1955 from Terril High School where he did very well academically and won several blue ribbons in track and field. In 1957, Duane married Joan Carpenter of Milford, Iowa. From that marriage they had three children, Michelle, Steven, and Sheila.

Duane enlisted in the US Air Force in 1957 and was trained as an electrician. He left the Air Force in 1961 and returned to Iowa. With two children and little opportunity as a civilian in small-town Iowa, he rejoined the service in 1962; this time in the US Navy where he served four years with Amphibious Construction Battalion Two. In 1966, Duane re-entered the US Air Force to cross train as a telecommunications instructor with the 3750 Technical Training Group at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. While in the Air Force he was awarded a commendation medal for Meritorious Service, A Master Instructor certificate, and a Sustained Superior Performance Award. Duane’s tours of duty overseas took him to Châteauroux, France; Wiesbaden, Germany; Keflavik, Iceland; Athens, Greece; Danang and Nha Trang, Vietnam, and Anderson Air Force Base, Guan. In the United States he was stationed in Lackland AFB, Texas; Cheyenne AFB, Wyoming; Gray AFB, Killen, Texas; Fort Mammoth, New Jersey; Bolling Air Station, Washington D.C.; Eglin AFB, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; Vandenberg AFB, California; Caribou AFB, Maine; and Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas. While stationed in foreign countries, he toured when he could and took special interest in local culture, government, and history making friends along the way.

In 1977, Duane married Sandra Lawler/Tucker of Burkburnett, Texas. His official Air Force carrier ended in 1981 after serving twenty-three years in the military. His time as an Air Force Communications Instructor in Wichita Falls however continued via employment through Civilian Service. Duane officially retired in 1994. While in the Civil Service and Military, Duane earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University. He also earned Associates Degrees in Mid-Management and a Real Estate from Vernon Regional College. Duane was widowed in 1993.

Duane’s loved flying and it was his favorite pastime. While stationed in Washington, D.C., Duane became a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and spent most of his free time flying. His next assignment at Eglin AFB in Ft. Walton Beach, FL provided him an opportunity to use his CFI and teach others to fly. Because the base was fully staffed with electricians and communications technicians and they were in need of a flight instructor, Duane’s main job at Eglin AFB became flight instructor. He often expressed how lucky he was for this assignment; it was his dream assignment and just reward for a man spent many years abroad serving his country.

About the time Duane retired, he met Joyce James. They found they had much in common and enjoyed each other’s company. They remained companions and friends for 30 years. In those years they socialized, traveled, celebrated family events, and maintained Joyce’s family farm. When he found time, Duane enjoyed working woodcraft, flying, visiting family, and traveling to new places. He was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church and their Men’s Club, the Big Band Dance Club, and the T-Bone Road Dance Club.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents John Carl Flack and Dorothy Ruby Weber Flack of Clay County Iowa; his brother John Arthur Flack of Iowa City, Iowa; his sister Vanita Villiams, Clay County, Iowa; and sister Marilyn Rebecca Craig of Spencer, Iowa. Duane’s grandparents were farming settlers in NW Iowa in the late 1800s.

Duane is survived by daughter Michelle Bilardi (Christopher) of Victor, Colorado; Michelle’s granddaughter Rachel Bilardi (Kenneth) of Cripple Creek, Colorado, and granddaughter Nelda.

Son Steven Flack (Marry) of Pensacola, Florida; grandchildren Kelly (Jack) and Austin; Daughter Sheila Chadwick (Lewis) of Richland Hills, Texas; granddaughter Trina James of Alverado, Texas, and grandchildren Alina, Elliana, and London; Daughter Alana James of Ft. Worth, Texas;

Friend and companion Joyce James of Wichita Falls, Texas; Joyce’s daughters Charla Clements- Wilson and Michelle Clements-Heger; grandchildren Daniel, Brittany, Brady, Ashlayn; and great grandchildren Cooper, Collins, Lee Oliver, and Amelia.

Memorial donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Church of Wichita Falls, Area Food Bank and/or Campfire North Texas of Wichita Falls, Texas