Duane H. Loyd, passed away Friday, November 14, 2025, at Stormont-Vail Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family. He was 77.
Duane was born in Horton on May 2, 1948, second of four children born to Carroll and Evelyn Gish Loyd. He grew up on the family farm near Powhattan where he helped his Dad with the chores and farming. He attended Powhattan Schools, graduating from Powhattan High School with the class of 1966.
He knew farming was not for him, so he attended Northeast Kansas Area Vo-Tech School in Atchison where he received his Associate’s Degree in Technology.
Duane proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force beginning in 1970, discharged at the rank of Staff Sgt. in 1974 at McConnell AFB in Wichita. He returned to northeast Kansas to become a broadcast engineer at KTWU in Topeka. He thoroughly loved his forty-year career there and retired as Director of Engineering in 2014.
Duane’s community in Powhattan was important to him even though he lived in Topeka. He returned to Powhattan on weekends to attend his church, Powhattan United Methodist Church. It was a high priority for him to keep their technology updated. He was a proud life member/current commander of Powhattan American Legion Wenger Post #373. He was also a lifetime member of the Society of Kansas Chapter #3 Broadcast Engineers.
Survivors include two sisters: Marjorie Loyd of Topeka, Carolyn Andres (John) of Hiawatha; sister-in-law Georgie Loyd of Broken Arrow, OK; Duane was the devoted uncle to nephews Matthew Loyd (Allison) of Milwaukee, WI and Brad Andres (Ashley) of rural Hiawatha; niece Lisa Meyer (Jeff) of Princeton, KS; great nieces and nephews Allyn Loyd of Houston, TX, Jotham, Josiah, and Elizabeth Meyer of Princeton, and Ava, Cooper, and Brentley Andres of rural Hiawatha; special friends Jim and Diane Handke of Lancaster and their daughters Lisa Wheeler (Matt) and Sarah Myers (Jeffrey), and granddaughters Hannah and Aspen Myers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Max Loyd.
A celebration of Duane's life is planned for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Powhattan United Methodist Church with Pastor Angela Hall officiating. Interment will follow at Powhattan Cemetery with military honors, a courtesy of the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.
Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha after 10 a.m. Friday where the family will meet from 6-8 that evening.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to KTWU, Powhattan United Methodist Church or the Powhattan American Legion, all of which may be sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.
