Bishop R. Sheldon Duecker
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
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He was born Sept. 4, 1926, in Medina County, Ohio, to Howard and Sarah Faye Duecker. On June 13, 1948, he married Marjorie Clouse, who survives.
A graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, he was awarded honorary degrees by the Seminary and Kendall College, Evanston, Ill. After being ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1953, he served United Methodist churches in Kokomo, Dyer, Muncie, Hartford City, Warsaw and Fort Wayne. He also served as Fort Wayne District Superintendent and Conference Council Director. He was elected bishop in 1988 and served the Chicago area from 1988-96. He was a member of the General Advance Committee, General Board of Publication, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, University Senate and the Committee on Africa Church Growth and Development. He gave the keynote address for the General Conference of the Korean Methodist Church, Seoul, Korea. He was a member of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church and Bishop-in-Residence at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 1988 by Governor Robert Orr. During retirement he served as a volunteer with the Development Office of Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe. He served on the boards of Parkview Hospital, Parkview Hospital Foundation, Erin’s House and Associated Churches. He also held the role of secretary/treasurer of the Brooks Crossing Villa Association. He was a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to all. He loved to play practical jokes and had a fantastic sense of humor. He embraced life’s opportunities and challenges and will be remembered with fondness and love by all who knew him.
Also surviving are a daughter, Cristine (and spouse David) Holman; brothers, Heyman (and spouse Jean), Ronald (and spouse Ethel) and Dennis (and spouse Patti) Duecker; a sister-in-law, Diane Duecker; grandchildren, Carrie, Robert and Lori Haney; great-granddaughter, Jaden Housman; former daughter-in-law Valerie Duecker and her three children; step-grandchildren: J.P. Isle, Josh Holman, Jasmin Lucas, Nicole (and spouse Tom) Putman; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, the Rev. Philip L. Duecker; brothers, Sherrod and Victor Duecker; and sister-in-law, Audrey Duecker.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne St., Fort Wayne.
Calling is from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
D.O. McComb & Sons, Fort Wayne, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials may be made to The Bishop R. Sheldon and Marjorie L. Duecker Scholarship Fund of Africa University, c/o General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007 or to First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802.[[In-content Ad]]
He was born Sept. 4, 1926, in Medina County, Ohio, to Howard and Sarah Faye Duecker. On June 13, 1948, he married Marjorie Clouse, who survives.
A graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, he was awarded honorary degrees by the Seminary and Kendall College, Evanston, Ill. After being ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1953, he served United Methodist churches in Kokomo, Dyer, Muncie, Hartford City, Warsaw and Fort Wayne. He also served as Fort Wayne District Superintendent and Conference Council Director. He was elected bishop in 1988 and served the Chicago area from 1988-96. He was a member of the General Advance Committee, General Board of Publication, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, University Senate and the Committee on Africa Church Growth and Development. He gave the keynote address for the General Conference of the Korean Methodist Church, Seoul, Korea. He was a member of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church and Bishop-in-Residence at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and was named a Sagamore of the Wabash in 1988 by Governor Robert Orr. During retirement he served as a volunteer with the Development Office of Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe. He served on the boards of Parkview Hospital, Parkview Hospital Foundation, Erin’s House and Associated Churches. He also held the role of secretary/treasurer of the Brooks Crossing Villa Association. He was a generous and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to all. He loved to play practical jokes and had a fantastic sense of humor. He embraced life’s opportunities and challenges and will be remembered with fondness and love by all who knew him.
Also surviving are a daughter, Cristine (and spouse David) Holman; brothers, Heyman (and spouse Jean), Ronald (and spouse Ethel) and Dennis (and spouse Patti) Duecker; a sister-in-law, Diane Duecker; grandchildren, Carrie, Robert and Lori Haney; great-granddaughter, Jaden Housman; former daughter-in-law Valerie Duecker and her three children; step-grandchildren: J.P. Isle, Josh Holman, Jasmin Lucas, Nicole (and spouse Tom) Putman; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, the Rev. Philip L. Duecker; brothers, Sherrod and Victor Duecker; and sister-in-law, Audrey Duecker.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne St., Fort Wayne.
Calling is from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
D.O. McComb & Sons, Fort Wayne, is in charge of arrangements.
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Memorials may be made to The Bishop R. Sheldon and Marjorie L. Duecker Scholarship Fund of Africa University, c/o General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007 or to First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802.[[In-content Ad]]
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