- Date Of Birth: September 8, 1940
- Date Of Death: July 4, 2016
- State: Illinois
SMSgt. Laurel Gene Duncan, USAF, Ret., 75, of New Baden, died Monday, July 4, 2016 at his home. He was born September 8, 1940 in Benton, IL, the son of William and Helen (Ponder) Duncan. He married Joanne Louise Marshall on May 15, 1964 in Jacksonville, AR. and she preceded him in death on October 30, 2000. Laurel is survived by a son, Royce (Misty) Duncan of New Baden; two daughters, Keri (Richard) Santel of Carlyle and Bethany (Scott) Grosinske of New Baden; seven grandchildren, Timothy, Christopher, and Jordan Wheat, Kellie and Ronny Santel, and Dustin and Cody Grosinske; two great-grandchildren, Emily and Hunter York; a brother, Robert (Shirley) Duncan; his companion, Judy Fisher of Belleville; and his four-legged companion, Sadie. SMSgt. Duncan retired after 28 years of active duty service in the United States Air Force. Following his retirement he worked for 10 years in Civil Service at Scott AFB. He helped create the training manual for the Global Air Transportation Execution System and helped to wire the Space Capsule as an electronics instructor. He received the Civilian of the Year Award multiple times throughout his career. Laurel enjoyed fishing, putting puzzles together, muscle cars – especially mustangs, and he especially loved eating chocolate covered peanuts. He attended the Scott AFB Chapel as well as Zion UCC Church; and was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 321 in New Baden.
