John Asa Duncan

John Asa Duncan was born on July 29, 1933, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, surrounded by his wife and daughter, and his dear friend Mike Burke also at St. Patrick Hospital. He was the youngest son of Thomas W. and Frances (Feehan) Duncan and grandson of Judge Asa Leland Duncan.

After his freshman year at Missoula County High School, John attended Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro, Virginia, for his remaining three years of high school. While at FMS, John's roommate was a Cuban national in pre-Castro Cuba. In 1950 he spent a memorable spring vacation in Havana. Upon graduating from Fishburne, he attended Virginia Military Institute for one year before returning to Missoula and enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He spent his entire three year tour at Lake Mead Base, an atomic nuclear facility near Las Vegas, Nevada. Upon his release from the Corps, John joined his parents in the Duncan Insurance Agency, where he found his calling as a salesman.

In early 1983, he married Jane Haaglund and later that year their daughter, Cristin, was born. Jane and John were two peas in a pod and enjoyed their weekly Friday night dinner dates right up until the final weeks before his passing. Cristin and John were connected at the hip from day one. Throughout her childhood, John would take his "little princess" for walks along the downtown streets, and spent countless hours mentoring her in his beloved garden. He was her hero, moral compass, best friend and partner in crime.

After selling his insurance company in 1988, he served as Lodge secretary for the local Elks Lodge for six years. In addition, he was a bailiff in the court house, worked on the 2000 census, as support staff for DNRC during the fire season, and delivered the DEX phone directory in Missoula's downtown business district.

John served as exalted ruler of Hellgate Elks Lodge 383, president of Eagles aerie #32, chaplain and quartermaster of the VFW Post 209, and was a life member of all three of these fine organizations. For 35 years, John participated in league bowling at Liberty Lanes. He loved his weekend trips with family and friends to the family cabin in the Swan Valley, his home away from home. Above all else, he cherished his membership in St. Francis Catholic Parish, of which he was a lifelong member.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Frances and his brother Thomas Leland Duncan. He is survived by his loving wife, Jane V. Duncan; his daughter Cristin; step-son Jon Hodges, and his kitties, Skeeter and Blondie. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Julie Duncan of Boise; nephews, John, Carlos and Richard, also of Boise; niece Ann Duncan of Missoula; his good friend and neighbor Mick Burke; friend and mentor Chris Daly; friends, Bob and Kathy Polenchek of Medicine Lake, Washington; his friends, Phil Douglas, Beth Keeland, and "Q" from the Ox, and his Friday lunch companions of over 20 years, Collette Goeres, George and Linda Lafferty and Alice and Bob Gillies.

Vigil will be held Monday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church. The service will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church with Father Perry officiating. Burial will follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery. Donations can be made to St. Francis Xavier church or to the local VFW post. Messages of condolence may be left for John at missoulafuneralhomes.com.


Read John Duncan's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.