Charles Duane Halpain, 83, of Hutchinson, went to be with his Lord on Friday, July 20, 2018. He was born December 25, 1934, in the home of his parents, Charles C. and Lorraine V. (Beers) Halpain, in Healdton, OK. Duane's parents were transferred to Kansas by his father's employer, Gulf Oil Co., when he was 8. After living in Burrton, Lyons, Chase, and Bushton, he graduated from Bushton Rural High School in 1953. While living near Bushton, Duane met his wife, Elsie Marie Robinson. They were married at First United Methodist Church, Hutchinson, on October 23, 1955. Duane and Elsie were blessed with four lovely daughters: Sheryl Kay, Cynthia Suzanne, Lori Diane, and Stephanie Denise. Elsie passed away August 21, 2012. He met Gretchen Kay Thiesen in 2014 and they were married on June 25, 2016.

Duane graduated from Fort Hays State College with a B.S. degree in Industrial Arts Education in 1957. He taught industrial arts at Esbon Rural High School from 1957-59 and Central Jr. High in Hutchinson from 1959-66. After two years working in retail, Duane returned to teaching at Hutchinson Community College in the fall of 1968, in the Distributive Education field. During this time, he completed his Master's degree in Education from Emporia State University and did post-graduate studies for a Ph.D. at Kansas State University. In 1989, Duane became Director of Admissions and Records at Hutchinson Community College, a position he held until 1993. In the fall of 1993, Duane became Supervisor of Registration at Southwest Missouri State University, a position he held until the spring of 1996, when he left education to work at Silver Dollar City near Branson, MO.

Duane was preceded in death by: his parents; wife, Elsie, of 56 years; and a grandson, Joshua Alan Goertz.

He is survived by: wife, Gretchen, of the home; daughters, Sheryl Goertz, Hutchinson, Cindy Posten and husband Phil, Topeka, Lori Klassen and husband Ramon, Inman, Stephanie Rempe and husband Jerry, Hutchinson; six grandsons, John Posten and wife Angie, Fort Collins, CO, Ryan Klassen of Nashville, TN, David Goertz, Buhler, Matthew Posten, Stevensville, MI, Mitchell Klassen and wife Helena, Inman, and Jarrod Goertz, Hutchinson; sister, Karen Halpain Ninman, Kalispell, MT; and brother-in-law, Dr. Bill J. Robinson and wife Yvette, Kalispell, MT; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2018, at Countryside Baptist Church, 819 W. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, with Pastor Cliff Kirk officiating. Cremation will follow and a private family inurnment will be held at a later date in Eastside Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Elliott Mortuary, with the family to greet friends 1 hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church or HCC, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.