Duane Tappe, McCook

Read DG Duane Tappe’s message to the District.

Duane was born in Butte, Nebraska but his dad, mom and their seven children later moved to Norfolk, Nebraska where he graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School. After one year at Norfolk Junior College, he wanted to see more of the world so he joined the United States Marine Corps. He did get to live in California for a couple years and spent a year in Okinawa as a heavy equipment operator.

After three years of military life, he was ready for college again and attended the University of Nebraska. He majored in special education and later taught in the Lincoln Public Schools. He also acquired graduate degrees in Educational Psychology and Educational Administration. He then moved to Wakefield, Nebraska where he was the Director of Special Education at Educational Service Unit #1 for 23 years.

After their last child went off to college, Duane and his wife, Diana, moved to McCook, Nebraska in order for Duane to serve as Administrator of Educational Service Unit #15 in Trenton for nine years. Since retiring, he has had part-time work managing the George Norris Historical Home in McCook and has filled in at ESU #15 and McCook Public Schools. He is now officially retired again but stays busy with volunteer work and serves on several boards.

Duane is a past-president of the McCook Rotary Club and served three years as Assistant Governor. He was glad to have the opportunity to attend two International Rotary Conventions (Birmingham, England and Montreal, Canada). While driving to Montreal, he was able to visit Maine and Vermont and complete his bucket list goal of being in all 50 states.

Duane and Diana have six children and seven grandchildren living in Washington, Arizona, Iowa and Nebraska.