John Holland Duncan, 89, of Great Falls, a decorated Army veteran, died of natural causes June 28 at a local nursing home.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service July 30 at First Congregational UCC Church in Great Falls.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Mildred (Peters) Duncan of Great Falls; his daughter, Julie; sons John (Lisa) and Brian; a granddaughter, Alex; seven nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolla and Fortunette Duncan; and sister Denise McCune.
John was born in Rexburg, Idaho, on April 17, 1918, to Rolla and Fortunette (Richotte) Duncan. John traveled to Montana with his family at an early age and lived in Helena and Billings. He graduated from Billings High School and later attended the University of Montana in Missoula. He joined Sigma Chi fraternity in 1937 and played football for the Grizzlies. While attending college, he completed ROTC training and graduated in 1940 with a bachelor of arts in business administration.
In 1941, John joined the Army as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve. He was then ordered to active duty as a member of the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment. From 1942 to 1945, John participated in campaigns at Attu in the Aleutians, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Leyte in the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. His final campaign involved the liberation of Korea, where he assisted in commanding the surrendered Japanese troops in Seoul in August 1945. During his Army career, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, with three oak clusters.
John married Mildred A. (Peters) Duncan in Great Falls on March 8, 1946. He owned Northwest Steel and later worked as a building contractor with General Construction Co. While in his 70s, John earned his real estate license.
John was an avid fly fisherman. As a boy, his father took him fishing on the Boulder River near McCloud, and for many years John returned there for two weeks every summer to fly fish with his family and friends. John enjoyed duck and pheasant hunting with his sons and friends at Freezout Lake. He learned to ski at a later age and spent time with his family at Kings Hill and Sun Valley.
John's family and friends will always remember him for his great sense of humor, his generosity and quick wit.
(Great Falls Tribune, 7/22/2007)
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service July 30 at First Congregational UCC Church in Great Falls.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Mildred (Peters) Duncan of Great Falls; his daughter, Julie; sons John (Lisa) and Brian; a granddaughter, Alex; seven nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolla and Fortunette Duncan; and sister Denise McCune.
John was born in Rexburg, Idaho, on April 17, 1918, to Rolla and Fortunette (Richotte) Duncan. John traveled to Montana with his family at an early age and lived in Helena and Billings. He graduated from Billings High School and later attended the University of Montana in Missoula. He joined Sigma Chi fraternity in 1937 and played football for the Grizzlies. While attending college, he completed ROTC training and graduated in 1940 with a bachelor of arts in business administration.
In 1941, John joined the Army as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve. He was then ordered to active duty as a member of the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment. From 1942 to 1945, John participated in campaigns at Attu in the Aleutians, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Leyte in the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. His final campaign involved the liberation of Korea, where he assisted in commanding the surrendered Japanese troops in Seoul in August 1945. During his Army career, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, with three oak clusters.
John married Mildred A. (Peters) Duncan in Great Falls on March 8, 1946. He owned Northwest Steel and later worked as a building contractor with General Construction Co. While in his 70s, John earned his real estate license.
John was an avid fly fisherman. As a boy, his father took him fishing on the Boulder River near McCloud, and for many years John returned there for two weeks every summer to fly fish with his family and friends. John enjoyed duck and pheasant hunting with his sons and friends at Freezout Lake. He learned to ski at a later age and spent time with his family at Kings Hill and Sun Valley.
John's family and friends will always remember him for his great sense of humor, his generosity and quick wit.
(Great Falls Tribune, 7/22/2007)
John Holland Duncan, 89, of Great Falls, a decorated Army veteran, died of natural causes June 28 at a local nursing home.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service July 30 at First Congregational UCC Church in Great Falls.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Mildred (Peters) Duncan of Great Falls; his daughter, Julie; sons John (Lisa) and Brian; a granddaughter, Alex; seven nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolla and Fortunette Duncan; and sister Denise McCune.
John was born in Rexburg, Idaho, on April 17, 1918, to Rolla and Fortunette (Richotte) Duncan. John traveled to Montana with his family at an early age and lived in Helena and Billings. He graduated from Billings High School and later attended the University of Montana in Missoula. He joined Sigma Chi fraternity in 1937 and played football for the Grizzlies. While attending college, he completed ROTC training and graduated in 1940 with a bachelor of arts in business administration.
In 1941, John joined the Army as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve. He was then ordered to active duty as a member of the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment. From 1942 to 1945, John participated in campaigns at Attu in the Aleutians, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Leyte in the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. His final campaign involved the liberation of Korea, where he assisted in commanding the surrendered Japanese troops in Seoul in August 1945. During his Army career, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, with three oak clusters.
John married Mildred A. (Peters) Duncan in Great Falls on March 8, 1946. He owned Northwest Steel and later worked as a building contractor with General Construction Co. While in his 70s, John earned his real estate license.
John was an avid fly fisherman. As a boy, his father took him fishing on the Boulder River near McCloud, and for many years John returned there for two weeks every summer to fly fish with his family and friends. John enjoyed duck and pheasant hunting with his sons and friends at Freezout Lake. He learned to ski at a later age and spent time with his family at Kings Hill and Sun Valley.
John's family and friends will always remember him for his great sense of humor, his generosity and quick wit.
(Great Falls Tribune, 7/22/2007)
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service July 30 at First Congregational UCC Church in Great Falls.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Mildred (Peters) Duncan of Great Falls; his daughter, Julie; sons John (Lisa) and Brian; a granddaughter, Alex; seven nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolla and Fortunette Duncan; and sister Denise McCune.
John was born in Rexburg, Idaho, on April 17, 1918, to Rolla and Fortunette (Richotte) Duncan. John traveled to Montana with his family at an early age and lived in Helena and Billings. He graduated from Billings High School and later attended the University of Montana in Missoula. He joined Sigma Chi fraternity in 1937 and played football for the Grizzlies. While attending college, he completed ROTC training and graduated in 1940 with a bachelor of arts in business administration.
In 1941, John joined the Army as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve. He was then ordered to active duty as a member of the 7th Infantry Division, 32nd Infantry Regiment. From 1942 to 1945, John participated in campaigns at Attu in the Aleutians, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Leyte in the Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. His final campaign involved the liberation of Korea, where he assisted in commanding the surrendered Japanese troops in Seoul in August 1945. During his Army career, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, with three oak clusters.
John married Mildred A. (Peters) Duncan in Great Falls on March 8, 1946. He owned Northwest Steel and later worked as a building contractor with General Construction Co. While in his 70s, John earned his real estate license.
John was an avid fly fisherman. As a boy, his father took him fishing on the Boulder River near McCloud, and for many years John returned there for two weeks every summer to fly fish with his family and friends. John enjoyed duck and pheasant hunting with his sons and friends at Freezout Lake. He learned to ski at a later age and spent time with his family at Kings Hill and Sun Valley.
John's family and friends will always remember him for his great sense of humor, his generosity and quick wit.
(Great Falls Tribune, 7/22/2007)
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