DUANE KAISER

1920 - 2018

Duane Leonard Kaiser Duane L. Kaiser, age 97, passed away on March 19, 2018. Duane, the second youngest of eight children, was born in a log cabin on a homestead outside of Sundance, Wyoming, on March 31, 1920. He graduated from Sundance High School where he participated in FFA and played football and basketball. Duane was a tail gunner on a B-17 during WWII. He flew 33 missions over Germany, was shot down once and received the Air Medal and four Oak Leaf Clusters. Duane met his wife-to-be, Kay, at Washington State College and they were married in 1947. Duane and Kay both graduated from WSC in 1948 with degrees in education. Duane later earned a Master's in Education from Oregon State University. He taught Agriculture and Industrial Arts first at Tenino, then at LaCenter and later Puyallup High Schools. Highly active in community affairs, Duane was an FFA advisor and served on numerous Fair Boards making sure the participants had a positive learning experience. Duane was elected as President of the Puyallup Education Association and served on numerous committees within the education association. As a farmer, Duane started and operated the Green Branch Ranch Christmas Tree Farm in Fredrickson from 1962 to 1993. He served as President of the Puget Sound Christmas Tree Growers and is an Honorary Lifetime Member. As Representative Duane Kaiser, he was a member of the Washington State House of Representatives from 1981 to 1984. He served on the Ways and Means Committee, the State Government Committee, and the Agriculture Committee where he presided as Chairman from 1982 to 1984. Duane and Kay were passionate WSU Cougar boosters, attending numerous football and basketball games. Both of their daughters graduated from WSU. Duane's wife Kay died in 2001. In 2002 he married Katharine Gronen. Katharine died in 2011. Duane is survived by daughters Karen Kaiserof Portland, Oregon, Julia Johnson (Neill) of Bernardsville, New Jersey, two grandchildren and one great-grandson. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 14th, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Puyallup, 1919 W. Pioneer Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to either the United Methodist Church of Puyallup or to the Kaiser Scholarships at the WSU Foundation, PO Box 641925, Pullman, WA 99164.