Dr. Duane R. VanDemark, 85, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, died peacefully at his home on Monday, May 3, 2021. He was the son of John and Anna (Lloyd) VanDemark and was born on February 26th, 1936, at the family farm on Piquad Road in Elida, Ohio.
He is survived by his two sons, Derek John (Heather) VanDemark of Lexington, Kentucky, and Rhys (Dr. Kathleen McGookey) VanDemark of Middleville, Michigan; his grandchildren Derek, Reeve, Charlie and Lucy Anna VanDemark; his sister Helen Morris of Elida; his nephew, Dr. Dennis Morris of Lima; and his niece, Beth (Steve) Patton of Columbus. He is also a great uncle to, Meredith (Michael) ten Brink and Aaron Patton, also of Columbus.
He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as, relatives special to him including his aunt, Margaret Lloyd Renner; brother-in-law, Gene Morris; and cousin, Eva Kinstle.
Known as “Van” by colleagues and friends, Far (Danish for father) by his children, Uncle Van by many more than his niece and nephew, and FarFar by his grandchildren, he has returned to his birthplace after more than 60 years. He spent most of his professional career at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where he was an accomplished and well-known speech pathologist. He lived in Iowa City, in the River Heights neighborhood, for over 40 years before retiring to Nicholasville, Kentucky to be closer to family.
He loved growing things and being in his greenhouse and he planted thousands of tulips over the years. He had a life-long thirst for travel and even took the whole family to Denmark for a year which resulted in wonderful friendships and traditions. He was a passionate fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
A private, graveside service will be held for family and friends at the Pike Run Cemetery, east of Gomer on Sandy Point Road, in Gomer, OH, on Friday, May 21, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Travel Abroad Program at Hiram College, www.hiram.edu, or a charity of choice. The family requests that no flowers be sent.