Duane Gene Anderson

Published 1:21 am Wednesday, October 8, 2014

June 26, 1933 – September 11, 2014

Duane Anderson, 81, passed peacefully in the presence of his loved ones at 5:30 p.m. on 9/11.Duane was born in Madison Co., Nebraska on the family farm. He grew up farming and attending school until the family moved to Bend in 1947. Graduating from Bend High School in 1950, he moved back to Nebraska with his family to help on their farm. He joined the United States Navy in 1953, serving in San Diego and The Philippines on a aircraft refueling squadron. He was honorably discharged in May of 1957, when he moved back to Bend and took a job at Brooks Scanlon/ Diamond International. He worked as a planer setter and heavy equipment operator. He loved to run equipment and was masterful on a Case backhoe, but could operate any piece of iron they had. He retired in 1994 after 37-1/2 years of service. After retiring, with his wife, Ora, Duane moved from Bend to Vail, OR, to be close to his daughters, Tammy and Trixie who had both moved to the area to work. He also spent a few years snowbirding to a place he bought in Arizona.Duane loved to hunt, fish and was an avid bowler. What he enjoyed the most was buying, trading and selling antiques. Duane and Ora made many trips to the midwest in search of anything old. He especially loved to go to auctions. Before moving back to Bend from their home in Vail, he had a large auction himself, drawing people from all over the state and Washington. He was an avid collector of John Deere tractors and would take visitors out to start them, “just to hear ‘em run”.

Duane is survived by his beloved wife of 26 years, Ora, three children, Tony (Gold Hill, OR)Tammy and husband, Rick Hopkins (La Pine, OR) and Trixie (Fruitland, ID), Two step-children, Miki (Bend) and Renee (Redmond), and sister, Jackie Walker (Bend). Duane also leaves seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter, and many nieces and nephews.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Dorothy, a brother, Ervin and a very special brother-in-law, sister Jackie’s husband, Merlin Walker.

Duane was a very special person and will be sorely missed by all of his family and friends.

GOD SPEED, DAD.

A graveside service will be held Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in the Pilot Butte Cemetery. Please visit the online registry for the family at www.niswonger-reynolds.com