Duane M. Skeen

Duane Skeen passed away at the age of 88 on February 19, 2026, peacefully in the comfort of his recliner, with his wife and daughter by his side. He is survived by his wife, Marge; daughter, Julie; much loved grandsons, Trevor and Nathan; and his sister, Delsie Gilpin.

Duane’s family lived in Kennewick until he was 5 years old when the family moved to Richland after his father was employed at the Hanford project sometimes called the Manhattan Project. Duane graduated from Richland’s Columbia High School in 1956. He participated in both track and football during junior high and high school.

His grandparents lived in Richland when the government took over the small farming community to begin work on the project to produce plutonium for nuclear bombs. He retained clear memories of so many residents, including his grandparents, having to leave their homes so critical construction work on facilities for making plutonium could get underway.

After high school, Duane enrolled at Washington State University to pursue a major in mechanical engineering. It was at WSU where he met his future wife, Marge. Duane left WSU after 2 years and joined the United States Marine Corp reserves. After 6 months of active duty he was assigned to the USMC’s reserve aviation unit based at Seattle’s Sandpoint Naval Air Station. During this assignment he served as a crew member on transport aircraft on drill weekends and 2 week summer camps for the next five and one half years.

Following completion of 6 months active duty in June 1959, Duane was hired by Boeing in Seattle where he worked on the design testing equipment for Minute Man ICBMs.

In August 1960, Duane and Marge were married. Duane continued employment at Boeing until 1963 when he and Marge moved to Ellensburg so he could finish his college education (and get out of Seattle’s rain). He graduated from Central Washington University in 1966.

Following his graduation from CWU, Duane was hired by the Ellensburg School District where he taught mechanical drawing at Morgan Junior High. In the summer of 1969, Duane was hired by CWU as a senior space analyst and was also able to complete his graduate degree by taking classes part time. In 1984, Duane was offered the position of Administrative Assistant to then Academic Vice President Dr. Edward Harrington which he held until 1998 when he retired.

During their years in Ellensburg Duane and Marge raised Arabian horses on their 5-acre home near the town of Kittitas. They continued to live there after ending their involvement with horses and keeping the acreage in good order became an important part of Duane’s retirement years as did their extensive traveling.

Duane served on the Kittitas County Fairboard from 1976–1984 where he was elected to two terms as president. Highlights during his years on the board were the development of Frontier Village and the construction of Bloom Pavilion.

He was a founding member and initial president of the Kittitas Public Schools Foundation where he continued to serve as a board member. The foundation continues to provide valued financial support to grades K–12 to help with the purchase of essential teaching materials. He was appointed to the Central Washington University Employees Federal Credit Union Board of Directors in 2006 and served on the 7 member board until 2009.

Duane and Marge made travel a priority in their retirement years and visited 38 foreign countries and all 50 states. There was never a time during their visits to other states that they considered moving away from Ellensburg and its great people. When asked why he likes Ellensburg so much his reply was: “When you see someone in town wearing cowboy boots it is because they need them for their work.” Duane said that he and Marge could never have found a better place to spend their lives than in Ellensburg and the Kittitas Valley with all the wonderful people who reside here.

At Duane’s request, there will be no formal services and his family will lay him to rest privately at the IOOF Cemetery in Ellensburg.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Kittitas Public Schools Foundation (P.O. Box 635, Kittitas, WA 98934), KVH Hospice, American Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com