Charles R. Duke Duplechain

Charles Richard "Duke" Duplechain, 70, died Sunday, March 18, 2012, in a local hospital.

Born in Oberlin, Louisiana to Cammie and Mary Lois Carrier Duplechain, Duke attended school in Kinder and then joined the U. S. Army. He took great pride in serving his country for 21 years, retiring as 1st Sgt. Major in 1981. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Bronze Star Medal, among many other achievements during his military career. Duke continued his public service after moving to Lake Charles in 1986 through his work at Holston's Ambulance Service and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, where he worked on the farm. Duke enjoyed hunting, working in his yard, and watching Westerns and sports, especially the LSU Tigers and the Saints. He grew up Roman Catholic in Oberlin and Kinder.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of almost twenty years, Grace "K" Duplechain of Lake Charles; sons, Mark Richard Duplechain and his wife Yvonna of Yelm, Washington and David Allen Duplechain of Anchorage, Alaska; daughter Deanna Duplechain of Austin, Texas; step daughters, Louise Marks and husband Sonny of Lake Charles, and Celeste Covington of Iowa; brothers, James Duplechain of Apple Valley, California, Alvin Duplechain of Houston, Wayne Cole of Carriere, Mississippi and Joseph Sonnier of Houston; six grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews and son-in-law, Homer "Buddy" Guinn.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 23, 2012, at Johnson Funeral Home. Father Keith Pellerin will officiate. Interment will be at Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 until 8 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. until service time.