Robert "Duane" Vernon, 58, of rural Bendena, died unexpectedly Thursday evening, May 1, 2014, at his home.

Duane was born March 11, 1956, at Kansas City, Missouri, one of three children born to Robert and Marilyn Watt Vernon.  He grew up at Grandview, Missouri until the family moved to McLouth, KS when he was in middle school.  He
graduated  McLouth High School with the class of 1974,  before briefly attending Kansas State University.  Duane had studied and apprenticed to become a boilermakerjourneyman,  working in this field for several years.  He had worked for KBS (Ken Babcock Sales) of Hiawatha for nearly 30 years, where he installed grainhandling systems and erected metal buildings. 
 
Duane was married to Shavaun McChesney at McLouth, August 9, 1980.  They lived at rural Troy for 5 years prior to moving to near Bendena in 1985.  She survives. Also surviving are two sons:  Drew (Heather) Vernon of rural Hiawatha; Sean Michael Vernon of rural Bendena; his parents Robert and Marilyn Vernon of Pryor, Oklahoma;a brother Michael (Juanita) Vernon of Atchison;  a sister Marsha (Dan) Gross of Tahlequah, Oklahoma;  four grandsons: Josiah Duane,  Braden Elias, Gavin Rowe and  Rennick Grant Vernon;  nieces and nephews.

Duane is remembered for his kind smile; love for hunting, organic gardening and scuba  diving;  his joyful laughter and his pure enjoyment of his family and grandsons.
 
A celebration of Duane’s life is planned for 10:30 Wednesday morning, May 7, at
The Christian Center in Hiawatha.  Tony French and Brad Farr will officiate.
Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Robinson.
 
Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha after 9 until 4 Tuesday.
The family will meet from 6 until 8 that evening at The Christian Center.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Chapel Oaks for a memorial to The Christian Center and may be sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.
 
A special message may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com