DELAVAN - Duane Lee Sampen, 72, of Delavan, passed away at 4:08 a.m. Wednesday (Feb. 4, 2009) at his home.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Delavan United Methodist Church. The Rev. Larry Moreau will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Stanford where military rites will be conducted by his legion post. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, also at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Delavan United Methodist Church.

He was born on Aug. 25, 1936, in Lincoln, to Hiram and Edna Klockenga Sampen. He married Eleanor Howe on Aug. 5, 1956, in Delavan, and she survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Beth (Doug) Zimmer, Delavan; one son, Phillip Sampen, both of Delavan; three grandchildren, Jordan, Brady and Maddison Zimmer, all of Delavan; one sister-in-law, Mary (Jerry) Howard, Delavan; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He moved from Emden to Delavan in 1941. He graduated from Delavan High School in 1954 and from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1959. Duane was drafted into the U.S. Army in October 1959. He served in Korea from 1960- 1961 and returned to the states, serving at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., until he was discharged in 1962.

He was employed at the Tazewell County National Bank in Delavan, retiring as CEO in 1993. He was presently involved with Minier Community Bank, a division of Morton Community Bank, and worked part time at the Davis Mortuary in Delavan. He was a member of the Delavan United Methodist Church, Delavan American Legion Post 382, Delavan Masonic Lodge 156, Delavan Historical Society and was a past member of the Delavan Rotary Club.

He was an avid Cardinals fan and liked to play cards. He especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in various sporting events. He and his wife also escorted bank bus trips and cruises across the United States.

To express condolences online, visit www.davismortuaryinc.com .