A 1957 graduate of Penns Valley Area High School in Spring Mills, PA, he worked as an engineer at WMLP radio station in milton, pa after high school. He then served in the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1968. He also graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in electrical engineering.
He worked at Microcube in Leesburg, VA. He loved playing the piano and listening to classical music. He was an amateur photographer, and gardening was a yearly hobby. He also rescued stray cats and gave them a home. The grange fair in Centre Hall, PA was a big event for him. He also loved PA Dutch White Birch Beer.
Duane’s two sons, William and Daniel, preceded Duane in death. His surviving son, David, and his wife Alison live in Florida. One sibling, Larna Kay, lives in Millheim, PA.
Duane held
an amateur radio license for about 64 years.
He was first licensed in 1958 with the call sign KN3CLX as a novice operator. He lived at 433 S Pennsylvania Av, Centre Hall, PA.
In 1959 the "N" in his call sign was removed and he became K3CLX. This was automatic after a year of getting his novice license. He probably became a Technician class operator at this time.
By 1971 Duane had become an Amateur Extra class amateur radio operator. This is the highest class of operator. He still lived in Centre Hall, PA.
In 1976, Duane became W4LHD, His address was 111 N Harrison Rd, Sterling VA 22170. He probably changed his call sign upon moving from PA to VA.
In 1978, Duane became K4UW. The call sign he held for the remainder of his life.
He was first licensed in 1958 with the call sign KN3CLX as a novice operator. He lived at 433 S Pennsylvania Av, Centre Hall, PA.
In 1959 the "N" in his call sign was removed and he became K3CLX. This was automatic after a year of getting his novice license. He probably became a Technician class operator at this time.
By 1971 Duane had become an Amateur Extra class amateur radio operator. This is the highest class of operator. He still lived in Centre Hall, PA.
In 1976, Duane became W4LHD, His address was 111 N Harrison Rd, Sterling VA 22170. He probably changed his call sign upon moving from PA to VA.
In 1978, Duane became K4UW. The call sign he held for the remainder of his life.
Duane often told the story of his move to Sterling. As he moved in, some of the hams in the neighborhood greeted him and informed him that the neighborhood had some rules; Duane was concerned because he was planning on putting up a tall antenna tower. They told him that any new towers had to be taller than the ones already there. HA HA
Duane was a very good CW (Morse code) operator. This was a skill that older hams had because they got their licenses in an era when receiving and sending CW was a requirement to obtain a license. He was, therefore, almost always one of the CW operators at the annual American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day event.
Duane also enjoyed other SPARC activities. These included being a volunteer examiner at the SPARC and the Dulles Area Radio Group amateur radio license examination sessions, attending the annual pizza party, helping out at the SPARC booth at the October Sterlingfest.
Everyone enjoyed talking to Duane. He was always kind, and nice - and always helpful.
K4UW FB OM GB SK 73 DE K4NVA
12 October 2002. Duane, on the left, at Sterlingfest. An annual street festival held in Sterling, VA. SPARC sets up a booth, operates a radio, and talks to passers-by about amateur radio as a hobby. Duane usually walked over. IT is only about 1/2 mile from his home
17 September 2009. Duane at a special event station at the Herndon Train Depot in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of train service to Herndon.
10 October 2009. Duane operating the SSB radio at the 2009 Sterling Festival SPARC Booth. This event was held only about 1/2 mile from his home and he was able to walk to the event.
5 June 2010, Duane holding his handheld radio at the Herndon Festival. Duane was helping to operate the SPARC booth.
8 October 2011. Duane at the 2011 Sterling Festival. He was helping to operate the SPARC booth.
August 2012. Duane arriving at the annual SPARC pizza party at Joe's Pizza. The pizza party was always held in August. Usually gets a good turnout of SPARC members.
19 May 2013. Duane, on the right, at a SPARC Amateur Radio Examination session at the Sheriff's substation in Sterling. Charlie, K3SR, and Gordon, NQ4K are on the left.
Duane enjoyed being a volunteer examiner at the SPARC and the Dulles Area Radio Group amateur radio license examination sessions where aspiring hams take the exam to get their license. The ARRL web site reports that Duane participated in 51 examination sessions. The last one he worked at was in September, 2022.
6 August 2014. Duane, on right, arriving at Joe's Pizzeria for the annual SPARC Pizza party. Gary, K4SRX (SK) is on the left.
26 June 2015. Duane at the SPARC Field Day site at Sterling Park High School.
11 September 2016. Duane at a SPARC sponsored Amateur Radio License Examination Session at the Sheriff's Substation in Sterling. Duane was acting as a Volunteer Examiner. Duane was able to help with all roles at the exam sessions. He graded examination papers, he monitored the exam room while candidates took the exam, and would also tell the candidates how well they did on the exam.
17 September 2017. Duane serving as a volunteer Examiner at a SPARC sponsored Amateur Radio License Examination Session. Duane is wearing a badge around his neck. The badge is from the American Radio Relay League and identified Duane as a Volunteer Examiner.
22 June 2018. Duane arriving at the SPARC Field Day site at Sterling Park High School.
22 June 2019. A group photo taken at SPARC's Field Day site at Sterling Park High School Duane is in the front row on the left. This picture was taken after the field site was all set up and ready for operation, but before the on-the-air operations had started.
4 February 2020. Club photo taken during the February monthly Club meeting.
17 January 2021. At Claude Moore park at outside club meeting due to COVID restrictions). We started to have outside Stand-Ins as a way of getting together but without being too close.
1 June 2022. Duane, on left, at SPARC meeting.
24 June 2022. Duane at SPARC's Field Day site at Sterling Park High School. He is sitting at the SSB station.
8 October 2022. Duane at the 2022 Sterlingfest. He helped operate the SPARC booth. This is our last picture of Duane