Duane Carlton Griggs

Mr. Duane Carlton Griggs, 92, of Burlington, and formerly of New London, died at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 27, 2012 at his home. Born January 23, 1920 in Washington, Iowa he was the son of Dewitt Clinton and Annie Weaver Griggs. On March 26, 1941, he married Margaret Jean Snider in Nashuau, IA. She preceded him in death on June 14, 1976. He then married Ruth Ann Hanger on March 10, 1990 in Burlington. He published the West Branch Times from 1953 to 1959 and was the owner and publisher of the New London Journal from 1961 to 1985. Duane started his career in the newspaper publishing business as a Linotype operator for various newspapers. Duane was a beekeeper and enjoyed bottling and selling his honey. He was a U.S Army veteran serving in World War II as a surgical technician in Okinawa, Japan, and a military police officer, stateside. He was a member of the New London Methodist Church Council and served on the New London City Council. He enjoyed writing Letters to the Editor and was great at keeping in contact with school friends, his Army buddies and all of his extended family. Survivors include his wife, Ruth Ann; four children, Cheryl Marie Griggs (Joe) Bonebrake of ...[more]

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t Burlington, Daniel R. (Sherri) Hanger of Roseville, MN, Joel D. (Christina) Hanger of Burlington, and Julie A. (Michael) Crane of Urbandale, IA; eleven grandchildren, Brian Joe (Kelly) Bonebrake and Anne Marie Bonebrake, both of Kansas City, MO, Matthew Byron (Lynn) Rocksvold of Bessemer, AL, Jeffrey Harlan Rocksvold of Harlingen, TX, Melissa L. (Robert) Mench of Woodbury, MN, Jeffrey D. (Nicole) Hanger of Des Moines, IA, Nicholas R. Hanger of Iowa City, IA, Alixandria M. Hanger of Burlington, Lucas M., Zachary T., and Alec F. Crane, of Urbandale, IA; and six great-grandchildren, Maggie, Warren, Casey, Cadence, Blake and McKenna. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret; daughter, Barbara Rocksvold; three brothers; and one sister. The Funeral Service for Duane will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 31st at Grace United Methodist Church with Pastor Trevor Davis officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at 3:00 p.m. Thursday in Elm Grove Cemetery, Washington, IA. Friends may call Wednesday, May 30th from 1 until 8 p.m. in Lunning Chapel with the family receiving friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Memorials have been established for Grace United Methodist Church and New London United Methodist Church.