Duane Taylor, 73, of Warsaw, IL passed away Monday, May 5, 2025, at St Francis
Hospital in Peoria, IL. He was born on November 18, 1951, in Springfield, IL the son of
Robert and Dawn Taylor.
He grew up in Rock Island Illinois where he graduated from Rock Island High School as
salutatorian of the class of 1969. He then attended the University of Illinois, where he
graduated with High Honors.
Before going on for further education, Duane was united in marriage to Joyce Apple on
June 24, 1972. Following a brief honeymoon, the couple moved to New Haven CT,
where Duane went on to attend Yale University and received a Master’s Degree in
English.
Duane was employed by Western Illinois University as an English instructor, then
He worked at Carl Sandburg College as a composition Instructor and later became
Director of the Extension Campus in Carthage. Duane later transitioned to John
Wood Community College in Quincy where he served in a variety of capacities
including Registrar, Dean of Instruction, and composition instructor.
Duane also served as Supervisor of Wilcox Township from 1997 until 2017 when it
merged with Rocky Run Township.
He retired in 2005 and declared that “Retirement was the job he was meant to have!”
because it allowed him to pursue some of his intellectual and creative interests. Duane
was an avid reader who was fond of history, religion, philosophy and detective fiction.
He made a variety of presentations to the historical society on information he
researched including information on Abraham Lincoln.
He was also an author who wrote a book of poetry titled “Cana County Marriage” and he
wrote a comprehensive retelling of an unsolved murder in rural Missouri in 1877 titled
“Innocent as the Angels”.
In addition to writing, he served as President of the Keokuk Public Library Foundation
and was instrumental in initiating the fundraising for the Library Park. Creative,
imaginative, and witty, Duane was a clever words-smith who was editor -in-chief of the
family newsletter for nearly 40 years and penned some “mostly true” articles. Duane
was seldom at a loss for words and was happy to regale anyone with a story, history
lesson, or obscure trivia. He enjoyed a good conversation.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his sister Denise (Victor) Blodgett of Cookeville, TN;
his sister Lorraine Cueno of Fairview Park, OH; his brother Lowell (Cara) of Nigeria; his

brother-in-law Frank Apple of Marion, IA; his brother-in-law Ron (Jean) Apple of
Louisville, KY; his brother-in-law Dennis (Linda) Apple of Warsaw, IL and numerous
nieces and nephews and cousins.
Duane was preceded in death by his mother and father, and his sister-in-law,
Patricia Apple.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Keokuk Union
Depot in
Keokuk, IA from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Keokuk Public Library
Foundation or Prairie Land Conservancy. Printy Funeral home of Warsaw is handling
arrangements.