September 14, 1938 - November 30, 2023

DUANE WAS BORN IN SWIFT CURRENT, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1938 TO ROBERT AND CORA JOHNSON. THE FAMILY, INCLUDING HIS YOUNGER SISTER BONNY, WOULD MOVE TO GREAT FALLS, MONTANA IN 1949.

DUANE WOULD BE THE FIRST FAMILY MEMBER TO ATTEND COLLEGE. HE WENT ON TO RECEIVE HIS B.A. DEGREE AND TWO M.A. DEGREES. HIS ARTFUL SKILL AT NEGOTIATING AND MEDIATING BROUGHT MANY BREAKTHROUGH CONTRACTS AND ARBITRATION RESULTS.

DUANE WOULD MEET LORETTA, THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE IN 1967 AND THEY WOULD MARRY IN 1968. THEY WERE BLESSED WITH DAUGHTERS, LORRAINE AND DENISE, SON-IN-LAWS ROB AND CYRUS, AND GRANDCHILDREN, GABRIEL, BEATRICE AND CHLOE. HE LEFT HIS FAMILY A HOME FULL OF MEMORIES.

DUANE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS STORYTELLING AND SENSE OF ADVENTURE. CLIMBING HILLS ON HIS MOTORCYCLE, MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, SCUBA DIVING, DOWNHILL SKING, ICE HOCKEY AND DRIVING FAST SPORTS CARS WOULD LEAD THE WAY. THESE ADVENTURES WERE SURPASSED ONLY BY HIS LOVE OF FLY FISHING AND FLY TYING. DUANE AND LORETTA WOULD CHERISH THEIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTENSIVE TRAVEL AS HE WOULD FISH ON EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPT ANTARTICA. I’M CONVINCED DUANE HAS FOUND THE BEST FISHING SPOT IN HEAVIN AND IS ALREADY CASTING HIS LURE INTO RUSHING RIVERS TEAMING WITH SALMON.

DUANE HAD A PASSION FOR READING, THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE AND HAD A DEEP FAITH IN GOD. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS LOVING KINDNESS, SHARP INTELLECT, GENEROUS SENSE OF HUMOR AND HIS CONSTANT PURSUIT FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

IT WAS HIS WISH THAT A MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL BE FOR HIS EXTENDED FAMILY AND BE OFFICIATED BY FATHER JOHN NEPIL, HIS NEPHEW AND DEACON DARELL NEPIL, HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW, WITH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBERS PROVIDING MUSIC. IN HONOR OF DUANE’S TWO YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, HE WILL BE INTERRED AT TOHOMA NATIONAL CEMETERY WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS. REST IN PEACE, RISE IN LOVE, MY DARLING.

Please enjoy this video tribute to Duane, created by his son-in-law Rob:
https://youtu.be/9o0E5BXsdeU

FUNERAL INFORMATION

WE INVITE FRIENDS, FAMILY, FISHING BUDDIES AND FORMER COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US ON THURSDAY, FEBUARY 1ST, 2024, AT 5PM AT 0STERIA da PRIMO, 631 SW 152nd STREET, BURIEN, WA 98166 FOR A CELEBRATION OF LIFE TO TOAST A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE, SHARE GREAT FOOD AND REFLECT UPON YOUR MEMORIES OF OUR BELOVED DUANE. PLEASE RSVP TO 206-940-6877.

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