Dorsey 'Duke' W. Ranker (1924-2017)
Dorsey 'Duke' W. Ranker, 92, died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 in Lyons, Kan. He was born Nov. 11, 1924 to Gus and Emma Ranker in Ellsworth, Kan. Duke married Della Wachs on Oct. 9, 1950.
Survivors include his wife; daughter, Linda Jackson (Jack); sons, Virgil (Connie); Dwayne (Geri) and Eugene; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Milburn; sister, Geneva Macek; brother, Herald “Peck” and five half-brothers.
Duke was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and served as an elder. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars following service in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise and served as VFW 6th District Commander. He worked for Northern Natural Gas Co. for 33 years before retiring.
Duke will be remembered as a prolific “fix-it” man, repairing knickknacks of all kinds for family members.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 26 with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Parsons Funeral Home.
The funeral service is at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ellsworth. Interment will follow in the Ellsworth Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 905 Stanberry St, Ellsworth, Kan., or VFW Post 6485 in care of Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan, 67439.
parsonsfh.com