James “Sir Duke” F. Duke, Jr., 64, of East Moline passed Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Unity Point Health Trinity, Rock Island.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 31, at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1501-6th Avenue, East Moline. The visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at Sullivan-Ellis Mortuary, Ltd, 1902-3rd Avenue, East Moline.
James was born November 10, 1954, the son of James Franklin Duke, Sr. and Delores LaVerne Rummels Duke. James was a United Township High School graduate, class of 1972. He worked at Reynolds Ford as a detailer in his earlier years. 30 years at Roadway Express as a dock worker, retiring in 2001.
James was a horse trainer as well as horse racer and owner of several horses at the Quad City Downs Racetrack, East Moline. He was a very passionate auto racer at the Cordova International Raceway, Cordova. James attended NASCAR Races several times a year in Las Vegas and Arizona. He was an avid CB radio operator. He enjoyed cameras and he built computers. He was also a part of the Los Amigos Drum and Bugle Corp, East Moline. He was a part of the National Street Machine Club for his 1968 Camaro. He was a huge Bears fan. Over his life time, he gained a huge magnitude of friends. He was loved by many and he will be dearly missed.
Those left to cherish his memories are his lifelong partner, Aida Reyes, East Moline; daughter, Carrie Duke, Moline; sister, Deborah (Morris) Palmer, East Moline; brother, Darin (Danielle) Duke, Aurora, CO, a host of Aunts and Uncles, scores of cousins, nieces, and nephews, and a host of friends.
James was preceded in death by his father and mother.
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