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Duane Burnet, 90

Duane Burnet died on Dec. 27, 2016, at 4:15 p.m. at home surrounded by family, friends and dogs Rascal and Emma. He was 90 years old. He had been in poor health for a number of years.

Duane was born in Leavenworth, Wash., on March 1, 1926, to Jennie Johnson and Edward Fred Burnet. He was raised in numerous small towns in Idaho and Washington during the Depression. He graduated from high school in Prosser, Wash. He served in the United States Air Force from 1944 until March 1946. He married Virginia Funk on May 23, 1944. They had three children, Jennifer, Brad and Bruce. They were divorced. In December 1961, he married Virginia Nalder in Richland, Wash. They had one son, Jay.

He worked at Cascade Pulp Mill in Pasco, Wash., as a digester cook. In 1959, he moved to Ketchikan, Alaska. He was head Digester Cook and retired as Digester Supervisor in 1988. In 1998, they moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They owned and operated the Garden Motel from 1988 to 2003.

Duane was an avid halibut and salmon fisherman. He and Virginia had many boats. They enjoyed traveling Southeastern Alaska. He was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Elks, and a proud member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia; son Jay of Coeur d’Alene; step-children Dennis Nalder and Sandra Mitchell of Boise; daughter Jennifer, Bradley and Bruce of Sitka, Alaska; and brother and sister-in-law Edward and Harriet Burnet of Richland.

No immediate services are planned. According to his wishes, his ashes will be returned to Alaska to one of his favorite fishing spots.