Duane Andrew Nyquist

Duane Andrew Nyquist
December 22, 1935 - May 23, 2022
Duane Nyquist was born in Tracy, Minnesota, on December 22, 1935, and died May 23, 2022 while working on the family farm in North Albany.
He was one of 10 children born to Carl and Beatrice Nyquist.
In 1943 his family moved from Minnesota to Oregon. On the trip west, the family celebrated Duane's 8th birthday by staying in The Dalles for the night. The family initially lived in the Donald area and moved to Scio when Duane was 14.
He attended Scio High School.
In his youth, he enjoyed living on a farm, playing sports, driving race cars and fishing.
In 1954, Duane enlisted in the United States Navy and served on active duty for four years, plus four more years in the Naval Reserve.
Upon returning from active duty, he married Janet Ross, of Mill City. They had four children: Ricky, Julie, Randy and Roger.
In 1965, Duane and Janet founded Lakeshore Lanes in Albany and in the 1970s, he returned to his family's agrarian roots and began farming as well, which he loved doing. He was a farmer through and through. He also did custom farming - planting and fertilizing crops - for numerous mid-valley farmers.
For the last 10 years of his life he farmed ground in North Albany with his sons Randy and Roger and his grandsons, Cody and Ben.
Duane suffered two tragic losses in his life, his son Ricky died in 1978 and Janet died in 1980 after a brief illness.
In 1982, Duane married Freida Barth of Albany.
In 1985, Duane helped his son Roger acquire Lakeshore Lanes, which had been sold in 1980 upon Janet's death.
Duane was a lifelong New York Yankees baseball fan. From 1998 until 2020, he traveled to the Yankees spring training camp in Sarasota, Florida.
In 1999, Duane's son Randy became the head foot-ball coach at West Albany High School. For the next 15 years, Duane was a constant presence at Randy's games. He greatly enjoyed cheering on those teams to victory from the sidelines. He particularly enjoyed the State Championship games of 2007, 2008 and 2013.
Along with his support of the Yankees and Bulldogs, Duane was a big fan of Oregon State baseball and attended the team's National Championship seasons in Omaha.
He also was faithful about attending his grandchildren's games and school events.
In his youth, Duane was a race car driver. He had more than one racing trophy and in 2004, Duane purchased a yellow Chrysler Crossfire convertible. He loved driving that car with the top down, so much so that he put 500,000 miles on it over the next 15 years.
When the car finally quit, he insisted on getting another one just like it - and he did.
He would take his grandchildren to get ice cream - one by one - since the Crossfire was a two-seater.
He was a "favorite uncle" to countless nieces and nephews and would drop everything if any of his family members or friends needed help with anything.
Duane - also known as Dad, Dewey and Papa - was good-natured, fun-loving and a selfless mentor to his children. He enjoyed spending time at the bowling alley and just being around people.
He was loved by his family and anyone who knew him. Dewey died doing what he loved, working on his tractor out in a farm field on a sunny day. He will be greatly missed.
Duane had 13 grandchildren: Ashley Nyquist, Alli Nyquist, K.J. Nyquist, Tori Nyquist, Haili Nyquist, Michelle Nyquist, Cody Nyquist, Jenna Nyquist, Ryan Nyquist, Ben Herrod, Audrey Sepp, Andrew Sepp, Katie Sepp. He also had four great-grandchildren: Kimberly Nyquist, Mitchell Nyquist, McKenna Herr and Parker Haglund.
The day before his passing he attended a birthday party for his great-granddaughter Kimberly Nyquist at Lakeshore Lanes. He was particularly enthused about the bowling ability of his 3-year-old grandson Mitchell during the event.
He was an outstanding father and mentor to his children.
"He was my best friend, mentor and my biggest fan, unconditionally," his son Randy said. "While his loss hurts deeply, we all feel blessed to have had him as our father. We love him and miss him, as do many in our community."
There will be a celebration of Duane's life from noon until 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, at Lakeshore Lanes in Albany.
Comments about Duane will be shared at 2 p.m. All who knew Duane or members of the Nyquist family are invited to attend.
Members of the public can share comments about Duane with the family at www.fisherfuneralhome.com.
Duane was proceeded in death by his first wife Janet; son Ricky; brothers Gene, Paul and Ted Nyquist; and sister Lavonne Burnham.
He is survived by Freida; his sons Randy (Christie) and Roger (Wendi); daughter Julie and Rob Sepp and Rita and Lori Gilmore; brothers Vern and Erwin Nyquist, sisters Loretta Spiess, Lorraine Otool and Luella Nyquist as well as the 13 grandchildren previously mentioned.
Memorial contributions may be made to Duane Nyquist Youth Sports Scholarship through the Albany Public Schools Foundation. Contributions can be made at https://albanypsf.org/ or mail donations to Albany Public Schools Foundation, Box 1772, Albany, OR 97321.