Beverly Jean Duffin

Beverly Jean Duffin, 84, of Ottawa, Illinois, beloved wife and devoted mother of six children and grandmother of thirteen passed away Monday, March 19, 2012. Funeral Service for Beverly will be 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2012 at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. Peter Ward officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. prior to services at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be at Summitview Cemetery in Ottawa. She was born April 25, 1927 in Des Moines Methodist Hospital. Her mother was Florence Hinchliff Barger, her father, Ora Earl Barger. She grew up in Humeston, Iowa and was valedictorian of her graduating class at Humeston High School. She played in the school band and starred on the girls' basketball team. After high school, she attended the University of Iowa, where she met John Duffin, her future husband. They married on New Year's Eve, 1949, and often joked that the whole world celebrated their anniversaries, especially in 1999, their 50th wedding anniversary. Her family was the center and focus of her life; she took great pride in her children and grandchildren. Beverly enjoyed playing bridge and loved to travel. She got to do a great deal of both after John accepted a teaching position in the Department of Defense Dependant Schools after retiring from Ottawa High School. The job was at Patch American High School in Stuttgart, Germany. While they lived in Germany, they travelled far and wide in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. After they returned to Illinois, they went on cruises to Alaska, Hawaii, and Panama. They visited five continents and fifty-three countries. Then they bought a mobile home in Tempe, Arizona, and spent winters as snowbirds until health problems made it necessary to return home to Ottawa. Beneath her warm and gentle manner, Beverly was a strong and brave woman who faced illness with courage. She never lost her sense of humor, and always had a twinkle in her eyes. Beverly was a member of the PEO Sisterhood for over 60 years. She was the daughter of a PEO, the mother of a PEO, and Past President of PEO Chapter EH of Ottawa. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Audrey Gloshen. She is survived by her husband John; three sons, John Thomas of Appleton, Wisconsin, William (Cindy) of New Berlin, Wisconsin, and James (Gloria) of Princeton; three daughters, Sally (Dave) Hass of Overland Park, Kansas, Julie (Jim) Wajrowski of LaSalle, and Susan (Rich) Navratil of Lino Lakes, Minnesota; her thirteen grandchildren, Conor, Kirstin, Brandon, Anna, Stephen, Deborah, Caitlin, Nathan, Blake, Luke, Garrett, Meghan, and Liam; and nephew, Garry (Nancie) Gloshen. Her sons and sons-in-law will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be directed to PEO Educational Loan Fund.