Duane Knos

Duane S. Knos, 92, of Rupert, Idaho, passed away peacefully at the Autumn Haven Assisted Living facility on Friday, June 30, 2017.

Duane was born in Oelwein, Iowa, to Christian and Helen (Schneider) Knos on September 17, 1924. He graduated from Fayette High School in 1942. After one semester of college, he joined the Army Air Corps and served with distinction flying a P47 Thunderbolt during World War II. Near the end of the war his airplane was shot down, and he was held as a POW. Duane loved flying his plane and told many stories about his time in the military.

Upon his return from the service, he married the love of his life, Lucille Luse, on August 19, 1945. They met at a high school music competition when they were teenagers, and Duane was proud of the fact that they celebrated 71 years together last August.

Duane returned to college in 1945, earning a Bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University in history. He taught high school in LaPorte City, Iowa, where he was also an assistant football coach and coach of a tumbling team that was featured in Parade magazine. While he was teaching, Duane worked on a masters degree in history during the summers and later earned a PhD in geography in 1956, both from the University of Iowa.

Following graduation, he was hired by the University of Kansas and spent 14 years teaching geography classes and running institutes for teachers during the summer. He truly loved teaching and working with teachers. In 1970, he transferred to Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he taught for 16 years. Upon his retirement in 1986, Duane and Lucy moved to Rupert.

Music played a huge part in Duane's life. He sang in church choirs everywhere he and Lucy lived. They loved singing solos and duets, blessing everyone who heard them. Duane was a lifelong member of the Barbershop Harmony Society and loved being a part of the Snake River Flats and singing with his quartet, The Dependents. He was a member of the Rupert United Methodist Church, serving faithfully on numerous committees. He also enjoyed facilitating a number of Sunday school classes. Duane took pleasure helping the Lighting Committee serve the Fourth of July breakfast on the Square, and he and Lucy served on the Wilson Theater Ball Committee.

Duane loved his family above all else, and his happy, positive outlook on life will be missed by all who knew him.

Duane is survived by his loving wife, Lucy, and two daughters, Nanette (John) Eilers and Barbara Feroce, both of Rupert. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a baby son, Gary, his parents, three sisters, a brother, and his son-in-law, Jeff Feroce.

Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July5, 2017 at the Rupert United Methodist church. Viewing for family and friends will be held for one hour prior to the services at the church. Services will conclude with burial in the Rupert Cemetery under the direction of Hansen Mortuary. On line condolences may be left at hansen-mortuary.com

The family wants to thank the wonderful staff at Autumn Haven for their kind and loving care of both Duane and Lucy, and Dr. Kerry Saurey and his staff, who also Date of Service: Jul. 5, 2017 provided loving care to Duane.