John William "D.J." Duncan </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:33 AM on Thursday, May 3, 2007

John William "D.J." Duncan

Kenai resident John William "D.J." Duncan died Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at his home in Kenai. He was 70.

A celebration of his life was held Monday, April 30 at Little Ski-Mo's Restaurant in Kenai. His ashes will be buried at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 at the Kenai City Cemetery. Pastor Tony Cloud will officiate.

John William "D.J." Duncan

Mr. Duncan was born June 11, 1936 in San Francisco, Calif. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Later he worked for Todd Shipyard as a lead pipe welder, co-founded the Chinook New Hope Center and worked with the homeless on Skid Row. He attended classes at the Green River Community College in Washington, where he also served as a sportscaster and worked for the Marriot Hotel chain as a line cook. He moved to Alaska in 1994.

After moving to Kenai, he attended classes at Kenai Peninsula College. He worked at the Soldotna Senior Center and Paradisos Restaurant in Kenai. He was a retired Southern Baptist Minister.

Mr. Duncan was a member of the Moos Lodge, the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club. He was also an umpire for Kenai Little League and an assistant coach for hockey teams. He volunteered with the Special Olympics and the local food bank and worked extensively with the Tustemena 200.

"He was known by D.J. to all who loved and knew him. Dad was very loving, funny and cared a great deal for animals, kids (and) sports and loved to hang out at Ski-Mo's for coffee. The most precious memory I have is when he gave me flowers on Mother's Day in 1988, when I had miscarried two months earlier with my first child. The love and compassion he showed me that day was what carried me through the day," his daughter Jacqueline wrote.

"He was a loving, kind and caring man, who smiled at everyone he saw, had a story to tell anyone who would listen, and made everyone laugh that was around him. A true blessing in our lives, we are honored to have had the blessing of such a wonderful and devoted man touch our lives for the time that the Lord allowed him to be with us. We are looking forward to meeting him in heaven," his daughter Sherri and family wrote.

Mr. Duncan was preceded in death by his parents, William and Martha Duncan; sisters, Shirley Tipton and Mary Tipton; brother-in-law, Harry Tipton; and mother-in-law, Arlene Church.

He is survived by his daughters, Jacqueline Blom of Kenai and Sherri Nyitrai of Soldotna; grandchildren, Roberta J. and Danyell A. Blom of Kenai, Michelle Smith of Sterling, April Linkfield of Tacoma, Wash., Kevin Michaelson of Soldotna and Andrew Blom of Kenai; great-grandson, Mathyas Smith of Sterling; ex-wife, Ardele Trail of Kenai, nieces and nephews, Mary John, William and Bob "Stretch" Tipton.

Memorial donations may be sent to Jacqueline Blom, 11823 Kenai Spur Hwy. #54, Kenai, AK 99611.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.

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