Duane Eugene Lupke

Duane Eugene Lupke, 93, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died December 10, 2023. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on July 17, 1930. Duane met the former Carol Justine Krull, his wife of 66 years, in 1954, and they married in 1957.

A loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Duane loved nothing more than to be with his family, surrounded by the natural world. A lifelong student and scholar, he spent countless hours sharing his love and knowledge of nature, history, and culture with his family. Duane and Carol were dedicated community volunteers and could be expected at fundraising events of all kinds. Duane instilled these passions and values in his children.

Duane attended Concordia Lutheran High School where he captained the rifle team. Duane won the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997 and was inducted into the Concordia JROTC Hall of Fame in 1998. In his senior year at Concordia, Duane won a speech contest sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and was awarded a scholarship to the School of Business at Indiana University. Duane distinguished himself at Indiana University winning the first Woodsmall Scholarship in Insurance. He served on the Interfraternity Council representing Kappa Delta Rho. He was a member of Scabbard & Blade and the Sphinx Club. He was in the ROTC and was captain of the Indiana University Rifle Team leading them to their 1952 Big Ten Championship and undefeated year. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Concentration in Insurance.

Following graduation, Duane entered the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant stationed at Fort Benning, GA. He completed his military service as a 1st Lieutenant with the 147th Infantry Regiment 37th Division, Fort Polk, LA.

Duane joined the family insurance business, Lupke Insurance Agency, in 1954. He became President in 1969 following the death of his father, Walter H. Lupke, Sr. Though a small agency, they gained distinction by placing insurance for niche and difficult and challenging industries, including energy, municipalities, amateur athletics, nonprofits, and schools. Duane was a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and served on multiple Agent Advisory Councils of the companies they represented. He was Elected Underwriting Member of Lloyds, London, 1973. His expertise, insurance knowledge, and personal integrity were highly respected by his peers and competitors as well as insurance company executives. After 63 years, he retired in 2017.

Duane was a founding member of the Concordia Educational Foundation and served on its board for its entire 64-year history. He championed the cause of providing the opportunity for the pursuit of academic excellence without regard to financial need. He was active on numerous boards including United Way, YWCA, Arts United, Sertoma, The History Center, Lutheran Hospital Foundation and Lutheran Health Foundation. Duane was instrumental in the transfer of the Lutheran College of Nursing to St. Francis College.

Duane was an avid outdoorsman loving hiking, fishing, hunting, birdwatching and natural history. He was particularly interested in environmental causes and served on the boards of Stockbridge Audubon Society, ACRES, Inc., and Fox Island Alliance where he was involved in establishing the cross-country ski program at the park in the 1970’s. In 2017 he received the Hidden Hero Award from the Little River Wetlands Project for his tireless advocacy for nature conservation groups and environmental initiatives.

Duane had a keen amateur interest in history, researching, writing, collecting, and speaking on multiple topics, such as economics, Native American artifacts, Persian rugs, Indiana and Midwestern Art, wine, and especially insurance company fire marks and memorabilia. His fire mark collection is among the largest and most historically significant in the nation and has been featured in articles and exhibitions.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents Walter H. Lupke and Lucy Viola Bell Lupke; his brother Walter H. Lupke Jr., and his niece Karen Lupke McArdle (John). He is survived by his wife, Carol Krull Lupke; children Diane Lupke (Ronald Kysiak), Mark Lupke, David Lupke, and Andrea Lupke Young (Timothy White); grandchildren Wolfgang Young and Millicent Young; six step-grandchildren; and eight step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 11:00 am Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 917 West Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN, with visitation one hour prior. Family and friends will be received Monday, December 18, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm at D.O. McComb and Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Burial at Concordia Gardens Cemetery. Memorials to Concordia Educational Foundation, Inc. or Little River Wetlands Project, Inc. (Eagle Marsh).