Duane R. Van Cleave age 83, passed away on Sunday, March 10, at his home in Burns, after a short illness.

Duane was born Oct. 10, 1940, to Ben and Maud Van Cleave, the youngest of nine children. Duane spent his early years living and working on his family ranch nine miles south of Baker, and attended grades 1-8 at the Lockhart country school, where he went on and graduated from Baker High in 1958.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1958 and spent the next four years on a ship as an electrician, discharging and coming back to Oregon in 1962.

On Aug. 18, 1962, he married Laura Muncey, and went to work for Oregon Department of Transportation as a draw bridge operator in Astoria. In 1966 he became Park Ranger at Unity Lake where he tended the park in the summer and plowed snow in the winter.

In 1969 he went to work for the United States Forest Service as an engineer. After many transfers he ended up in Burns in 1981, where he and Laura made their home. He spent 26 years with the Forest Service and retired in 1995, but continued working as a contract thinner and juniper cutter. After an injury, he stopped thinning and went to work for the next 12 years for the Harney Soil & Water Conservation District where he officially retired.

In his free time Duane enjoyed cutting fire wood, camping, fishing, hunting and spending time with his grandsons.

Duane is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lari and Todd Higgins; grandsons, Ty and Dallon Higgins. He is proceeded in death by his parents, eight siblings, wife of 58 years Laura, and sons, Jody and Ryan.

Per Duane’s request, no service will be held.