Obituary: Johnson, Duane
Age 85
He passed away October 4, 2014.
He attended grade school and high school in Badger and graduated in June 1947 as a co-salutatorian of his class.
He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and graduated in June 1951, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in mathematics and minoring in economics and education.
Duane taught high school in Arthur, ND, for one year and was then selected by the Air Force for flying training as a weapons system officer at James Connally AFB, Waco, TX, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant in February 1953.
Duane’s first assignment as an Air Force officer was in Fairbanks, AK, where he spent two years fighting the cold war flying as a weapons system officer in F94 and F89 all weather fighters.
Returning to the states in 1955 he served in several flying and non-flying positions and in August 1961, he was selected by the Air Force to attend the University of Illinois to obtain a degree in Electronics Engineering.
Receiving his degree in February 1964, he was assigned to Air Force Systems Command as an electronics engineer with duty at L.G.
Hanscom Field, Bedford, MA as a technical advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, standardizing communication systems between the military services and NATO.
In 1967, due to a shortage of flying personnel, Duane returned to flying, served in two different fighter squadrons and ended his career as an advisor to the Washington Air National Guard, training Weapon Systems Officers in the F101 fighter.
Duane retired from the Air Force in 1973 as a Lt.
Colonel after 20 years and six months of service.
After retiring from the Air Force, he was offered a job as Business Manager of the South Side Catholic Schools, a consolidation of four Catholic Schools on the South Hill of Spokane.
After serving in his position for three years he accepted the position of purchasing manager at Instrumentation Laboratories, a manufacturer of medical instruments in, Spokane where he served for fifteen years.
Duane loved to play golf and for many years enjoyed playing the local courses with his friends.
He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Medical Lake and served many years as a council member and several years as council president.
He was devoted to and is survived by his wife Janet of 61 years.
He is also survived by his brother Gene (Donna) Johnson, Fargo, ND; sons Keith (Diane) Johnson, O’Fallon IL; Kurt (Cathy) Johnson, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; Michael Johnson, Spokane.
Daughters, Barbara (David) Kuhn, Medical Lake; Diane (Brad) Wittman, Gig Harbor, WA and Amy (Todd) Wood, Airway Heights.
He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 10 great-grand- children and numerous nieces and nephews.
Duane will be laid to rest on Saturday, October 11, 2014.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 pm at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 223 S. Hallett Street, Medical Lake.
Prior to the funeral, from 12:00 -1:00 pm there will be a viewing at the Church.
Following the service, there will be Military Honors at 2:30 pm at the Spokane Memorial Gardens.