March 16, 1990
Father Peter Duke
Father Duke was born at Cheney, Kansas on June 14, 1943. After attending Garden Plain High School and Pittsburg State College, he prepared for ordination at Loyola University in Chicago, IL; Mount St. Paul College in Waukesha, WI; Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI; and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Bishop Maloney ordained him at St. Mary’s Cathedral on May 30, 1970. As an assistant Fr. Duke served at Holy Cross Parish in Hutchinson and St. Patrick Parish in Wichita. In 1974 he began teaching at Kapaun-Mount Carmel and was made pastoral director at the school in 1984. Father Charles Regan, former Superintendent of Schools, said of Father Duke, “He worked hard at teaching and was good with the students. He showed them a lot of care and help.” (The Catholic Advance, Mar. 22, 1990) Father Duke also served as chaplain of the Hutchinson Community College Newman Club and the Wichita Catholic Alumni Club. In 1984 he became pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Arkansas City and in 1987 went on sick leave. He died at forty-six years of age on May 16, 1990. Bishop Gerber celebrated Father Duke’s funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wichita and he was buried at St. Rose Cemetery in Mount Vernon, KS.