Duane L. Cunningham, the son of George and Ann (Lawrence) Cunningham was born on July 20, 1921, on a farm in the Akron community west of Albion. He received his elementary education at country schools west of Albion and attended Albion High School.

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Duane joined the Army Air Corp in December of 1941. His assignments included military police officer and a canine trainer. He served in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge, and was honorably discharged in 1945.

Duane married Luella "Susie" Nelson on July 11, 1942, at Bartlett, Nebraska. He farmed and operated a grain and livestock trucking business until gradually retiring in the early 1990's.

Duane and Susie enjoyed traveling. They often traveled to various places in the south during the winter including Alamogordo, New Mexico, where Duane had been stationed. For several years they enjoyed residing at the Sunshine Village in Harlingen, Texas. Following Susie's death in April of 1998, Duane continued to go south for the winter until his health no longer permitted.

He entered the Nebraska Veteran's Home in Norfolk in December of 2006. It was there where he died Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at the age of 89.

Duane was survived by two daughters: Judy Goshorn & husband, William of Bondurant, IA; Jane Olson & husband, Neil of Niobrara, NE; 4 grandchildren: Ann Peterson & husband, Brian; Peter Goshorn & wife, Cindy; Scott Olson & wife, Beth; and Troy Olson & wife, Jenn; 7 great-grandchildren: Emily Goshorn, Shanena Bauer, Landon, Gavin, & Dalton Olson, Tinley & Rawley Olson; 2 step great-great- grandchildren, Aden & Emerie Snyder.