Duane Claeys

Duane Claeys, age 77, passed away peacefully on January 13, in the presence of his loving wife, after a day surrounded by his children and brothers. Duane is survived by his wife of 49 years, Grace Claeys (née Koehn), and his children, Kate and Aaron, as well as his son-in-law, Jake Cerese, and his daughter-in-law, Shannon Claeys (née Rowland). He will be remembered by his three granddaughters, Finnley, Hayden, and Emry. His memory will be cherished by his siblings and their families: sister Clareen and her daughters, brother Carl, and brother Brian and his wife Arsie. Duane was also loved by his wife Grace's family: the Koehn, Reimer, and Roosma families. He is predeceased by his parents, Walter Edward Claeys and Betty Duane Claeys (née Stensrud), and his younger brother, Curtis. Duane was born on January 29, 1947, in Bremerton, Washington. As the eldest of five children, he was a caring and supportive big brother. When he was growing up, he was known for inventing and building contraptions with his best friend to entertain themselves and the kids in the neighborhood. After graduating from Bremerton High School, Duane was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He scored very highly on his aptitude test upon entry and was chosen to train and serve in the radio communication division. That experience launched him into his career in electrical engineering. When he returned from Vietnam, he earned degrees in Electronics from Olympic College and Industrial Technology from Western Washington University. He worked as an electrician at Western for five years before becoming an electrical designer at Anvil Corporation, where he worked for 32 years. He was well-respected by his coworkers, regarded as a brilliant thinker and meticulous planner. Duane and Grace met at Hillcrest Chapel and were married in the fall of 1975. Duane was a loyal husband. Grace admired his honesty and intelligence. He was a hard-working provider for his family, but loved nothing more than taking time to watch Aaron's baseball games or attend Kate's choir concerts. He was generous with his time and skills, spending many hours assisting his children, extended family, and neighbors with home projects. A highlight of his retirement years was his involvement with the Meridian Math Club, where he helped his granddaughters place in the regional math competition. Duane was a kind and quiet man with a sly sense of humor. His hobbies included hiking, camping, fishing, and dreaming up woodworking projects. He enjoyed taking road trips to national parks and boating in the San Juan Islands. The family would like to express our deep gratitude to the staff at Silverado Memory Care and Eden Hospice Care. We have also appreciated the support of our friends, family, and community throughout Duane's journey with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease. A private graveside service will be held for family and close friends at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 17, at Enterprise Cemetery in Ferndale (7041 Vista Drive). A celebration of life will be held for those wishing to share memories of Duane at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 18, at Woods Point Lodge in Ferndale (1420 Woods Point Loop). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lighthouse Mission Ministries in Bellingham or Engedi Refuge in Lynden.