Gilbert Duane Cisney (84) of Hidalgo

Gilbert Duane Cisney, 84, ‘‘from down at Hidalgo,” (as Duane would say), passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 3:45 AM at Cumberland Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, Greenup Illinois, after a lengthy illness.

He was a beloved Husband, Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Monday October 28, 2024, at the Hidalgo Baptist Church, in Hidalgo. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until service time, at the church. The burial will be in the Aten Cemetery following the service. The Barkley Funeral Chapel in Greenup is assisting the family.

Duane was born on October 31, 1939, on the Henderson family farm southeast of Greenup, to Gilbert Wayne and Minerva Ellen (Henderson) Cisney. He was the oldest of nine children. His siblings are John, Jim, Jerry, Mary Jane, Janice, Virgil, Vernon, and Charles. Duane was a 1957 graduate of Newton Community High School. The song, “Class of ‘57”, by the Statler Brothers, was a favorite. He enjoyed listening to classic country music, especially Gene Watson. He also enjoyed listening to various Gospel quartets and loved to sing along. Duane and Karen Sue (Aten) Cisney were united in marriage on May 17,1958, and were blessed to celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary this past summer. They have seven children, Donna Sue (Deceased), Michael Duane, Mark Alan (Mary), Martin Lee, Marla Kay (Phil) Reynolds, Maria Ann (Jim) Green, and Mary Ellen (Roland) Chapman. Duane liked to say that they all had “M” names, Mike, Mark, Martin, Marla, Maria, Mary, Mommy and Me! They have twelve grandchildren, Bridgette (Bob) Remlinger, Kendall (Trista) Cisney, Kendra (Ryan) Kohnert, Tayleigh (Savannah) Ruiz-Nolan, Ryan (Rachel) Reynolds, Alison (Will) Lowry, Nicole Green, Michaela Green, Morgan (Dalton) Koontz, Madalyn (Steven) Pogue, Joshua (Caitlin) Chapman, and Melissa Chapman. Also, twelve great-grandchildren, Konner and Kamryn Remlinger, Holden, Thatcher, Berkeley, and Collier Cisney, Flynn & Jensen Ruiz-Nolan, Bryce & Brielle Reynolds, Opal & Dexter Chapman, and great- grandchild, baby boy Lowry, due in March 2025.

Duane was a hard worker and grew up working on the family farm southeast of Hidalgo. As a young man, He was employed at the Hidalgo Elevator, where he worked with brother-in-law, Steve Aten, and came away with many comical stories to tell! He later worked at Greenup Shoe Factory and Greenup Appliance, before going to R. R. Donnelly & Sons, in Mattoon, from which he retired in June 1995, at 55 years of age, after 27 ½ years of employment. He was the #3 employee hired there since they assigned numbers alphabetically. He holds a patent #5,282,613 with R. R. Donnelly & Sons Company and James F. Standerfer for a Signature Stream Feeding Apparatus (Bindery Feeder). Duane and Karen raised their family during his employment with Donnelly’s and he had many great memories of his time there. After retirement, Duane worked part-time with the Crooked Creek Township hauling gravel and helping maintain local roads. Duane enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether it was hunting, camping, or mowing with his Dixon mowers! He loved to tinker in his garage, including repairing lawn mowers and small engines. He helped out many neighbors by sharpening knife blades to repairing appliances, vehicles, etc. Duane had the gift of a mechanical mind. If he couldn’t find a part available, he was able to fabricate the part he needed. One of his favorite projects was rebuilding his Ferguson Tractor, which was literally in pieces, thrown in boxes, when he bought it! He was able to drive it in a few parades once it was in working order! Duane was involved in his hometown community of Hidalgo by serving on the town board for numerous years and serving as Mayor. He was a founding member of the Hidalgo Volunteer Fire Department and served as Fire Chief from 2001-2005. It is now known as the Crooked Creek Fire Protection District, and he was an active member until 2022. He was on the Hidalgo School Board, a Boy Scout leader, and a member of the Jasper County Antique Tractor Club. He was an involved neighbor, checking in with elderly friends frequently and helping them when needed. Duane was a Christian. He was an active member and Deacon at Hidalgo Baptist Church all his adult life. He enjoyed singing and was a member of two gospel quartets.

Duane is survived by his wife, Karen (Aten), his sons, Mike, Mark (Mary), Martin, all of Hidalgo, Marla (Phil) Reynolds, of Newton, Maria (Jim) Green, of Wheeler, and Mary (Roland) Chapman, of Greenup. 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren with another due in March 2025. Brothers, John (Anita), Jim, Jerry (Ped), Virgil, Charles, Sister, Janice Watkins and Sisters-in-law, Kathy and Diane (Bob) Ramsey, as well as step-sisters-in-law, Dorothy Smith and Kay Reisner.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Minerva, Stepmother, Ruby, Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law, Webster and Opal Aten, Daughter, Donna Sue, Brother, Vernon, and Sister, Mary Jane Lewis, Brothers-in-law, Jack Watkins, Bill Lewis, and Steven Aten, Sisters-in-Law, Cindy and Shirley, and Linda (Pete) James, and stepbrother, Kenny Reisner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cumberland Rehabilitation & Health Care Center Resident Activity Fund. Online condolences can be expressed by clicking here.