Duane Richard Port

Duane R Port, age 83, passed away peacefully Thursday, June 11, 2026, at home in Lanark, IL surrounded by family. Duane, or “Red” as many called him, was born July 1,1942 at home in Fulton, IL, the second of seven children to Richard and Nellie (Engelkens) Port. In 1956, in the middle of his freshman year, his family moved to the Lanark area, Duane went on to graduate with the Lanark Class of 1960. On December 7, 1963, he married his former classmate, Constance “Connie” Blair, they celebrated 58 years together and raised four daughters before Connie’s passing on June 22, 2022.

Duane worked a variety of jobs in his lifetime, the first being a farmhand at a young age. During his junior and senior years of high school he worked at the Standard Oil gas station in Lanark where he pumped gas and worked on cars. Duane went on to work for Carroll Service Company, working a variety of jobs at two different times in his life for a total of 26 years. He later owned and operated D & D Hardware Store in Lanark for 17 years and then D & D Repair for another 5 years.

Duane loved to talk about his first car, a rose and silver colored 1955 Studebaker coupe, that was both loud and fast. In his free time he enjoyed fixing things, fishing and tending to his large vegetable gardens with the overabundance of which was shared with family, friends and neighbors.

Duane is survived by his four daughters, Shelley (Fred) Clark of Mt. Carroll, IL, Darcey (Mike) Shuman of Lanark, IL, Kelley (Mark) Marti of Colorado Spring, CO, and Alisha (Ryan Giedd) Metz of Lanark, IL. Four grandchildren, Devin (Mallory) Shuman of Shannon, IL, Taylor (Kyle) Hemmersbach of Leaf River, IL, Tyler Metz of Lanark, IL and MacKenzie (Aden) Extrand of Laughlin AFB, TX. And his “little ladies”, his great-granddaughters, Zaidee Layne and Bristyl Paige Hemmersbach with their new little sister due in October. He is also survived by two brothers, one sister and one sister-in-law.

Duane is predeceased by his wife, his parents, two sisters and one brother.

A special note of thanks to Nurse Jessica and CNA Debby Mae from Mercyhealth FHN Hospice for their care and compassion during Dad’s final days.

A visitation will be held Tuesday, June 16, at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Lanark, From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A private family graveside service will be held at Lanark Cemetery.