Sill Barn Background:
The Duane Sill
Family

Duane Sill is a very kind hearted, soft spoken man. At the age of 54, he has been married to Eunice Sill for 31 years. Duane is retired from Sill Insurance where he was the owner. Eunice and Duane have a daughter, Gina, 23, who is a student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, a son, Chris, 20, a junior at the University of Iowa, and a son, Jon, 13, a 7th grade student in the Manchester School System.

Duane is a 1972 graduate of the University of Iowa and received his Masters Degree in 1973. He went on to work at Cornell College from 1973-76 and then to work at Sill Insurance from 1976 to the time of his Dad’s death in 1989. At that time he took over the Insurance business in Manchester.

The Sill Family have always been exceptional University of Iowa Boosters and West Deleware Boosters. Duane has been very active in his community. He was an active volunteer in school activities when his children were in school His interest including helping the underdog and watch them excel. Duane has also been very involved in his community leader having served on the Manchester City Council, been involved in most civic organizations, like the Lions and Junior Acheivement. When Duane chooses to get involved in something, he jumps in with both feet. Duane’s greatest interest and love is doing things for others, especially those less fortunate. He is a good husband, father, and a welcome friend to those in need. Duane tends to blend in, because his good deeds to others are so grass roots.

Duane’s father John died in 1989 at the age of 66 and his mother, Dorothy died in 1999. I first met John in 1980, when the doctor that delivered Duane and his brother (Allan of Superior WI) and his sister (Judy Morton of Phoenix AZ) introduced me. John became a Camp Courageous board member in the early 80s and Dorothy was an exceptional volunteer. When John was too weak to attend board meetings, as a result of his cancer, Dorothy was there to fill those working shoes. Dorothy soon became a Camp Courageous Honorary Board Member. Ten years later, in 1999, Dorothy, also developed cancer. As she layed in her hospital bed in her living room, surrounded by family, we visited about the future. Dorothy decided she would like to see a barn built with money John and Dorothy were going to leave the camp. During my weekly visits with Dorothy, she began to show me items that belonged to her and John, she thought would be interesting to campers in the barn area. John was an Outstanding Young Farmer, before going into the insurance business.

John and Dorothy were in the process of leaving a legacy that would become one of the biggest thrills to campers with special needs coming to camp. Within days of Dorothy’s death, plans were being created for a John & Dorothy Sill Barn and Farmyard Area.

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