Duane Ehnen

Duane L. Ehnen, 93, of Marysville, Kansas, passed away on May 24, 2026, at Blue Valley Health & Rehab in Blue Rapids, Kansas.

Visitation was held on Monday, June 1, from 1 to 8 p.m. at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m.

A funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 2, at the Marysville Methodist Church.  Pastor Johnny Tucker officiated.  Musicians included Gail Gilkerson, Justin Scheele and James Spann. Hymns included "Amazing Grace", "Wings of a Dove", and "For the Good Times."

The pallbearers were Justin Scheele, Travis Scheele, Jesse Edwards, Jacob Zutterman, Ian Scheele, Nash Edwards and Doug Schroller. Burial followed in the Marysville City Cemetery.

Duane was born on April 2, 1933, in rural Gage County, Nebraska, the son of Harm and Tena (Pollman) Ehnen. He attended a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade and graduated from Barneston High School in 1951. During high school, he was active in football, basketball, Legion baseball, band, and singing.

On April 5, 1953, he was united in marriage to Anita Nieman at the Evangelical United Church of Christ in Marysville. The couple made their home in Marysville, where Duane began working for Gambles Hardware. The business was later sold to Sidles Automotive and relocated to 704 Center Street.

In 1977, Duane and Anita purchased the store and renamed it Ehnen’s Automotive. They operated the business until 1999, when Duane retired and sold the store to Dennis and Diane Schroller. In 2008, Duane’s grandson, Jesse Edwards, and his wife, Quinciann, purchased the business and continued the family tradition under the name Ehnen’s Automotive. Duane returned to work as a delivery driver and greatly enjoyed staying involved.

In 1966, Duane began driving a rural route bus for Marysville Schools. A few years later, he also started driving activity buses and became well known as the longtime driver of the “Bulldog Bus.” He loved concession stand popcorn and was easy to strike up a conversation with while watching a sporting event.

Duane was a faithful member of the Marysville Methodist Church. He enjoyed helping American Legion Baseball with Soup Days and found joy in camping with his family, tinkering at the “Chick House”, splitting wood, plowing snow with his tractor during the winter months, and delivering Meals on Wheels.

A kind soul, Duane showed up with a smile and was easy to garner a chuckle out of. He loved cracking jokes and spending time with his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren. Duane was a true representative of a Marysville Bulldog and wore his black and red apparel with pride. If he wasn’t decked out in bulldog garb, he’d proudly be in his Nebraska Cornhusker wardrobe.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Cameron Duane Edwards in 2000; siblings, Deloros Youst, Shirley Saathoff, and Leon Ehnen; and brother-in-law, George Youst.

Survivors include his wife, Anita of Marysville; daughters, Maralee Scheele (David) and Deneise Jenkins (Bill), both of Marysville; brothers-in-law, Leonard Saathoff, and Ed Taphorn; sister-in-law, Judy Ehnen; and six grandchildren and their families: Justin Scheele (Dina) and their children, Makalah Lonnborg (JT), Ian Scheele, and Izzy Scheele and her daughter, Sawyer; Travis Scheele (Tina) and their children, Jacob Zutterman (Emily) and children, Matthew, Loretta, and Evelyn; and Raegen Scheele, Kamdon Scheele, and Maycie Scheele; Jesse Edwards (Quinciann) and their children, Sophie, Piper, Nash, Leanna, and Wren; Renee Jackson (Aaron) and their children, Avery and Elyse; Justin Jenkins (Krystal) and their children, October and Tripp; and Mark Jenkins.

A memorial fund has been established and will be designated at a later time. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary.