Cover photo for Duane Rayburn's Obituary
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1935 Duane 2022

Duane Rayburn

July 21, 1935 — June 13, 2022

Duane Franklin Rayburn age 86, passed away peacefully at his home on June 13, 2022.

He was born July 21, 1935, to the late George and Helen (Petersen) Rayburn in Honey Creek, IA. Duane graduated from Missouri Valley High School with the class of 1954. He was proud to say he was valedictorian of his class. Duane farmed for 40 years in Honey Creek.

In the early 80's, Duane began purchasing properties in Council Bluffs. During the winter months he would remodel homes, while still managing to work his full-time farming job, including the care of livestock. Buying and selling properties became his full-time job in the late 80’s and once he retired from farming, Duane started Rayburn and Son Construction. Duane bought and sold many properties over those 40 years, as well as managing multiple rental properties. At the peak of his career, his portfolio grew to as many as 48 single family homes. He was a frequent shopper at Menards, made lifelong friends there, and he continued his work in real estate and rentals until a few weeks before his passing.

On March 17, 1957, Duane was united in marriage to Carole Skelton. They were married for 62 years. Although farming and real estate kept him very busy, Duane loved to travel and took his family on many vacations to National Park's across the country. In later years, he and Carole frequently traveled to Branson, Missouri and South Padre Island. They also enjoyed cruising, visiting the Caribbean, as well as Alaska. Duane loved horticulture, both indoors and outdoors, and eventually built a sunroom in which he enclosed for all his plants. He even had his own palm tree, and when it outgrew its space, he added on to his “plant room” to accommodate it. He also loved feeding and watching the birds, and in 2011, Duane and Carole were awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the State of Iowa for their donated gift of land used as a conservation easement to Hitchcock Nature Center.

Duane was an active member of Woodland Community Bible Church and served as deacon for several years. He was very proud to be the general contractor for the church expansion in 2004 and at age 69, Duane was walking the rafters helping with the framing. He spent several months working on church expansion, along with help of his son and family, as weekend warriors of this project. Over the years, Duane also made many friends in the food industry, and enjoyed taking friends and colleagues to lunch. For 30 years, every Saturday, you could find him at Arby's for lunch.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Carole Rayburn; grandson, Zachary Butcher.

Duane is survived by his children, Jeff Rayburn, Lori (Bob) Allmon, Cindy (Brian) Butcher, and Sally (Todd) Newland; grandchildren, Emily Mintle, Mishelle Light (Shane), Matt Butcher and Justin Butcher.

Memorials are suggested Woodland Community Bible Church or EveryStep Hospice .

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, June 17, 2022

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home and Crematory

1221 North 16th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

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Funeral Service

Saturday, June 18, 2022

Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)

Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home and Crematory

1221 North 16th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

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Burial

Grange Cemetery-Honey Creek

, IA

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