Edward “Mr. Ed” Dura, 92, of Kewanee, died at 3:00 am on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at his home. Edward was born in 1926 in Kewanee, the son of and last survivor of the Michael and Jenny (Leggins) Dura family.
Ed married Marcella (Bowman) on August 1, 1953 in Kewanee. She preceded him in death on December 2, 2012. Ed is survived by one daughter, Debbie Dura of Kewanee; two grandchildren, Casey (Kiki) Lindbeck, San Francisco and Alivia (Blaise) Smaling of Danvers, IL; and one great grandchild, Boden Lindbeck. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Annette; and siblings, Frank “Ole” Dura, Leo “Peanuts” Dura, Helen “LaLa” Spanich, Margaret “Midge” Kohler, Elizabeth “Libby” Ebel, and Mary Claire Moline.
Ed attended Kewanee Schools graduating with the class of 1944. While in school, he worked at Huebner Kopeke Bakery. In October 1944 he was drafted into the Army – after six weeks of training he was home for a six-day furlough to attend a funeral, then shipped overseas to join General Patton’s 3rd Army Division, serving in the Chemical Division during WWII. Ed worked at Walworth, City of Kewanee as a water meter reader, and retired from Hysters. He lived independently and showed great pride in ownership. He held 70 continuous years membership with the American Legion. He was a lifetime devoted member and volunteer of the former St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, renamed, St. Francis of Assisi Church, and a devout Catholic who enjoyed daily prayers.
Ed was proud of his Polish heritage; he and Marcella made several trips to Poland including in the 70s and 80s when it was a communist country. Ed visited his father’s home and meet his surviving relatives. Later he and Debbie made those trips. Ed and Marcella enjoyed traveling including a 50th Wedding Anniversary train trip to Canada.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am, Monday, June 24, 2019 at St. John Paul II Catholic Church. Father Johndamaseni Zilimu will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Military Rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council. A Rosary Service will be at 9:00 am, Monday, June 24, 2019 at Schueneman-Tumbleson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Kewanee Veterans Council or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Following services there will be a luncheon at the Flemish American Club, Kewanee. Please leave an online condolence for Edward’s family at www.schuenemantumblesonfuneralhome.com.
Father Jerry and Leslie Rafalko were very special neighbors and friends who were always good to Ed and Marcella. Ed felt he knew Father Jerry better than anyone in town.

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