Merlin Duane Hilderbrand

September 20, 1935 - March 9, 2021

Merlin Duane Hilderbrand, 85, of Central City, Nebraska died Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at Merrick Medical Center in Central City. Funeral services will be Friday, March 12, 2021 at 1 p.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home with Pastor Mark Hartley officiating. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial at a later date. The family requests everyone to dress in casual attire. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Duane was born on September 20, 1935 to Fredrick Albert and Nettie Pearl (Brown) Hilderbrand in Oshkosh, Nebraska. Duane enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War conflict. He was honorably discharged and returned to Clarks. He began working for Union Pacific Railroad. He then worked at Rainbow Bakery in Grand Island. He was an over the road trucker from 1974 until 2018. He worked for Fremont Contract Carriers, Sunrise Express, and various other companies. Duane mostly lived in Grand Island. He moved to Central City in 1987 where he was living at the time of his death. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post#6 in Central City. He is survived by his wife- Catherine of Central City, NE; son- Dale and Maureen Hilderbrand of Phillips, NE; three daughters- Michelle Hilderbrand Pedrosa of Central City, NE; Traci Hilderbrand and Mindy Hilderbrand of Grand Island, NE; step daughter- Cindy (Boyd) Betts of Central City, NE; step sons- Mike (Sherri) Lukas of McCook, NE; Kevin Lukas, Dennis Lukas and Kenny Lukas all of Grand Island, NE; Randy (Ronda) Carmichael of Central City, NE; one brother- Dale (Nadine) Hilderbrand of Central City, NE; and 14 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter- Shelly Ann Hilderbrand; brothers- Merle and Verlin Hilderbrand; sister- Carol Hilderbrand; nephew- Bill Hilderbrand.