As some of you are aware, we lost two wonderful and valuable Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad members this summer to a tragic vehicle accident. Chuck and Linda Dueker were killed on Tuesday, June 14th in western Nebraska. Their son Bruce was with them but survived the crash.
Chuck was born November 3, 1942 in Bayard, NE. He attended Milford College in Milford, NE receiving an Associate’s Degree in Diesel Mechanics. Chuck and Linda were married on February 23, 1963 and moved to Albuquerque in 1964. Chuck worked for Rust Tractor/Wagner Equipment for 45 years.
Chuck has volunteered with the Friends for 13 years, having excellent mechanical skills and solved just about any problem that arose.
He worked on a vast number of projects, many as Team Leader, and was always willing to jump in and help others. Chuck’s vast experience and positive attitude were just a few attributes that made him an invaluable asset to the Friends organization. Here are a few of the projects Chuck was directly involved with over the last few years:
Installed the north wall sheeting for the Car Storage Facility.
Restored the Jordan Spreader OU to operational condition.
Extended the concrete pads for the west end of the Car Repair Facility.
Engineered and installed the foundation forms for the CRF Tool Room addition.
Installed two flag poles at the Osier Kitchen facility.
Upgraded the electrical system in Caboose 05635 and added upgrade to the water system.
Reassembled Tank Car truck sets to include installation on Tank Car 11036.
Serviced and inspected Pile Driver 0B and Derrick OP for demonstrations during the C&TS celebration in 2021.
Repaired Section Car 04407 to provide sleeping accommodations for volunteers coming to work at the CRF.
Chuck was an individual with a tremendous ability who was always willing share and willing to help others.
Linda volunteered for with the Friends for thirteen years. Linda was born on May 18, 1944, the third of three children born to Bruce and Mary (Lee) Lesoing in Alliance, NE. Linda grew up on a farm outside of Alliance, NE. She graduated from Alliance High School in 1962. She retired from Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Albuquerque, where she worked for 23 years and enjoyed spending time with her family, sewing, country western dancing, interior design, crafting, cooking and baking. Linda was very devoted to Chuck and her family. She supported Chuck and his wishes to be a volunteer of the Friends organization and joined him in the work sessions. She also supported and assisted him with construction and up keep of the condos and buildings they owned.
With the Friends, she worked on chronicling projects, registration and sales merchandise and most of all with Food Preparation. She served as team leader in Antonito for several years.mAs team leader, she planned daily lunch menus, ordered and purchased food and kitchen supplies. She organized the preparation and serving of the lunch to the volunteers. She would also assist in other projects as needed, from painting to sorting materials.
Friend’s volunteers always enjoyed working, visiting, and sharing life stories with her. Chuck and Linda enjoyed traveling, camping and yearly family reunions back in Nebraska and enjoyed traveling with trips to Germany and Mongolia plus cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, Northern Europe and along the East Coast of the United States. Chuck also enjoyed carpentry, country western dancing, photography, brewing beer, camping, hiking and sailing.
It was a joy, pleasure and fun to work with both of them. Chuck and Linda will be missed by all of the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
Tim Tennant, John Engs and Mary Jane Smith
If you wish to donate to the Friends in Chuck and Linda's memory (as was their wish), you can donate through the Friends Web site, by check or by credit card by phone or mail.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2022 07:26AM by Chris James.
