More detail on this person: Edward Anthony
DuChene, 84, of Manhattan died Friday, June 10,
2016 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in
Manhattan.
Edward was born June 17, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois
to the late Peter Anthony DuChene and Dorothea
DuChene. Edward was a graduate of Vancouver
High School in Vancouver, Washington and went on
to a long and distinguished career in the United
States Air Force.
Ed enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. Shortly
after enlisting, he applied for and was accepted
into the Aviation Cadet program. After graduating
from Pilot Training, he was commissioned as a 2d
Lieutenant. Ed accumulated hours piloting a myriad
of aircraft to include, the T-6, T-33, F-9F,
F-86D, F-102A, HU-16, H-5, H-19, H-21, H-34, and
his favorite aircraft, the HH-43B, Husky
helicopter in which he accumulated over 1000
flight hours. Ed was awarded the Airmen's Medal
for Heroism in 1976 for saving the life of an
Enlisted Aircrew member following an in-flight
engine failure and subsequent crash of the HH-43
helicopter he was piloting. After he safely
egressed from the fiery crash, Ed ran back into
the burning aircraft and pulled the injured crew
member to safety. Ed also earned the Bronze Star
Medal, the Air Medal, and numerous Service
Medals and Ribbons. Ed spent a year in Vietnam
flying rescue missions and served as a US Advisor
to the South Vietnamese Air Force. Edward retired
from the Air Force in 1970 as a Major and a rating
of Command Pilot. Upon retirement from the Air
Force, Ed entered the garment manufacturing
industry and worked for companies in Washington
State, Iowa, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, and
Kansas.
Ed was an avid golfer, bowler, amateur
meteorologist, loving husband, father, and
grand-father. Survivors include his wife of
sixty-one years Cora Jean DuChene; their daughter,
Renee DuChene Huggins and her husband Dr. John
Huggins of Grapevine, Texas; their son, Peter
Edward DuChene, CMSgt, USAF (Ret) and his wife
Jill Henniges-DuChene (USAF veteran), of Norman,
Oklahoma. Ed leaves behind four grandchildren,
Courtney Huggins of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Paul
Huggins and his wife Ashley Huggins of Irving,
Texas; Benjamin Henniges-DuChene of Norman,
Oklahoma; and Zachary Henniges-DuChene of
Norman, Oklahoma.
At the family's request, there will be no private
viewing or visitation.
A memorial service will be held 9:00 a.m. Thursday
June 16, 2016 at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at
Fort Riley, 5181 Wildcat Creek Road, Manhattan,
Kansas 66503, in the committal shelter in the
cemetery, with the Rev. Ben Duerfeldt officiating.
Memorials are suggested to Fisher House
Foundation, which provides military families
temporary housing close to a loved one during
hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury
(www.fisherhouse.org) or the Good Shepherd
Hospice House (Manhattan, Kansas).
Contributions may be left in care of the
Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616
Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Online condolences may be left for the family
through the funeral home website at
www.ymlfuneralhome.com
Burial information: Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Manhattan, KS
This information was last updated 06/16/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/11/2023
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