Funeral Services for Duane L. "Dewey" Hinze

Duane L. ”Dewey” Hinze, 86, of rural Albion, NE, passed away unexpectedly Friday, September 18, 2015 at his home.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at Akron Presbyterian Church, rural Albion with the Revs. Ray and Mary Avidano officiating. Interment will follow at Akron Bonanza Cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion.

Duane “Dewey” Leon Hinze, son of Arnum C. and Elsie R. (Bodmer) Hinze, was born April 5, 1929 in Albion, NE. He attended rural school at Boone County School District 53. In 1952 he entered the United States Army where he served in the artillery unit in the Korean War and was honorably discharged on June 3, 1954.

On April 16, 1958 he married the love of his life, Mary Ann Klassen in Albion. Following their marriage, they lived on his maternal grandparents’ farm north of Loretto. In 1964 they moved back to the family farm in Akron where together they farmed and raised their family. Dewey did custom corn shelling in the area for over 40 years. He took great pride in raising cattle and being a farmer all of his life.

Dewey loved all animals. He enjoyed working cattle and the cattle drives to and from pasture each year. Dewey continued to care for his horses and mules each day with his trusted dog by his side. He liked hunting, attending antique tractor pulls, threshing bees and blue rock shoots in the summer. However, his greatest joy was having his family, especially the grandkids and great-grandkids, come out to spend time with him and Mary Ann at the farm.

Dewey was an active member of the Akron Presbyterian Church and was also a member of the American Legion Post #334 of Petersburg, and a member of the Rae Valley Heritage Association.

Surviving Dewey is his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann; children: Carol (Joe) Bauer of Elgin; Kenneth (Corena) Hinze of Akron; Janet (Terry) Reigle of Stanton; Sally (Jason) Beck of Frederick, CO; 10 grandchildren: Diane Rieck; Daniel (Paige) Scott; Desiree Rieck; Jason Weatherly; Andrea (Josh) Hora; Kaleb Reigle; Morgan Reigle; Dylan, Lauren, and Sage Beck; 13 great grandchildren; two sisters: Leta (Donald) Brugger of Albion and Nelda (Ralph) Cook of Helena, MT; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son Leon Carl in 1968; and brother Keith Hinze.