Duane V Pelkey

Norfolk: Duane V. Pelkey of Norfolk, age 85, passed away on July 29, 2025 at home surrounded by family after a brave battle with cancer. As per his request, there will be no calling hours, the family plans on having a celebration of life at a later date.
Duane was born in Massena, NY on December 25, 1939, the son of the late Ernest Pelkey and Louva (Moquin) Pelkey. He attended Massena schools until he struck out on his own learning to be a large equipment operator and mechanic. In 1966 he partnered with John Shean to open a Shell Gas/Service Station on North Main Street. The business was very lucrative. Duane left the partnership to start working for Alcoa around 1973 while running a part time auto repair shop at his home on the Winthrop Rd. He worked in the Garage rising to Unit Supervisor of Fleet Maintenance – Department 32 retiring in 2001. Never one to let "grass grow under his feet" Duane Built his own house in Norfolk over three years moving there in 1983. He also drove truck and did maintenance for the Late Ben LaRue of Norfolk.
He is survived by his sister Elaine (Pelkey) Krywanczyk, Daughter Valerie (Pelkey) Plourde (Alfred) and Son Duane M. Pelkey (Laurean).
He is also survived by six Grandchildren, Crystal (Plourde) Arnold (Jesse Arnold), Clayton
Plourde (Tiffany Plourde), Chase Plourde, Connor Pelkey (Megan), Emily Pelkey
and Derek Pelkey as well as four great grandchildren Jesse Arnold, Jose Arnold, Jacob
Arnold, Jules Arnold and Maxx Plourde.
Duane is pre-deceased by his wife Betty (Truax) Pelkey and four sisters Ann (Pelkey) Francis, Mary Jane (Pelkey) Mattice, Debbie (Pelkey) Guimond and Beatrice (Pelkey) Donahue.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Memory of Duane to either Hospice of St. Lawrence County (www.hospiceslv.org) or Sacred Heart Church in Massena.