Duane E. Yager 61, of Newton passed away Monday, October 5, 2026.
Funeral services to honor Duane’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Crain Funeral Home, Newton with Rick Britton officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 9th and from 10:00 a.m. until time of services Saturday all in the funeral home. Burial will be in the New St. Peter Cemetery, Newton, Illinois.
Duane was born on November 29, 1964 in Olney, Illinois, the son of Edward John and Carol Ann (Nix) Yager. During high school, Duane developed his carpentry skills through the building trades classes. He spent the next forty years working as a carpenter in Jasper County.
Duane married Lori Rice in December 1996. Sharing a love of snowmobiling, they were married in Ashland, Wisconsin while enjoying a snowmobile trip. Together, they enjoyed antiquing and were always on the lookout for another crock to add to their collection. For many years, Duane and Lori also shared an interest for beekeeping, tending their hives and enjoying the rewards of their hard work.
Duane was a man of many interests and rarely stayed indoors for long. He loved spending time outdoors, whether fishing with friends, hunting deer, or searching for mushrooms and ginseng. A devoted dog lover, he was known for his ability to train dogs exceptionally well. He also enjoyed playing cornhole and following NASCAR. He was a great fan of Dale Earnhardt. Duane took pride in continuing family traditions, including butchering alongside his dad and processing deer with his family each season. Duane was a member of the Knights of Columbus #1704.
Survivors include his wife Lori Yager of Newton; mother, Carol Yager of Newton; son, Cody (Keshia Midgett) Yager of Newton; granddaughters, Machelle and BraeLeigh; sister, Debbie (John) Zuber of Newton; and his nieces and nephews.
His father, Ed Yager, preceded him in death.
Memorial gifts in honor of Duane may be made to the Donor’s Choice.
Comments