Duane Kerr passed away peacefully on January 24, 2023, at his home in his Lazy Boy recliner in Ely, Nevada. He was 88 years old. Duane was born on August 7, 1934, to David F. Kerr and Eva Carling Kerr in Ely Nevada. He spent his childhood growing up between Ely and the Family Homestead in Bothwick, Nevada.
Duane married Kareen Bellander on May 18, 1963, in Ely, Nevada and they had two daughters Duana and Lynette. Duane’s love of family and friends was unsurpassed. Family always came first and he enjoyed helping out his family members whenever possible. He was a true example of kindness and helpfulness. His daughters and grandkids always knew they could count on him to help with school projects and sporting events, (even getting the school class Christmas Tree).
Duane started ranching at a very young age, working on the Homestead as well as many of the ranches in the surrounding area during his early days. His love of animals and especially horses started on the Homestead. He always had one or two horses at his place for the kids to ride.
After Duane’s dad passed, he quit high school and went to help his mother on the Homestead. He later went to work for Isabell Construction Company, where he helped put in the Dolly Varden Highway. He then went to work for Kennecott Copper Corporation in Ruth, Nevada. Duane was drafted into the Army in 1957 where he spent two years in the Army Corps of Engineers where he learned to run and operate heavy equipment. After his time in the Army, he came back to Ely and his job at Kennecott where he was an equipment operator. Later he became a certified pipefitter-plumber for Kennecott until they shut down. After Kennecott, Duane worked at various occupations. He worked for the White Pine County School District Maintenance crew, and a short while for Silver King Mines. Duane went to work for White Pine County, first in the Road Department, and then for the County Maintenance Department where he retired as the County Maintenance Supervisor in 1999. Not long after retiring he went to help his son-in-law at Gust Electric on a specific project and stayed working and tinkering for an additional 14-years until he un-officially retired a second time.
With his retirement this gave him extra free time to enjoy his family, horses, camping, hunting , and fishing. He was known for his Dutch oven cooking. Duane was the President of the Ely Riding Club, where he was trail boss for the annual Father’s Day Breakfast Ride up to Murry Summit. He was also a member of the Ely Photography Club. He had many camping trips and outings with both clubs and there are pictures galore to remember the adventures he had.
Duane participated in the centennial rerun of the Pony Express trail in July of 1960, where his name is on the Pony Express Monuments at the Museum in Carson City, Nevada, and at Harrah’s at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. In 2010 with the one hundred and fifty year rerun of the trail he was recognized for his re-ride and was presented with another belt buckle at Schellbourne Station. Duane was the last of the original centennial Pony Express reenactment riders in Nevada.
Duane is survived by his loving wife Kareen, of almost 60 years, his daughters Duana (David) Miller and Lynette (Russell) Gust, grandchildren Daniale (Randall) Jackson, Heather Miller, Jordan Gust and fiancé Codi Scott, Jonathan Gust and McKenzi Wilkin, great grandchildren Everett Jackson and Paisley Jo Boyd, brother-in-law Lee Hone and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews, and the extended family of Matt, McKenzie, Ross, and Emri Bauman.
Duane, was preceded in death by his parents and his nine siblings.
At Duane’s request there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Community Against Child Hunger (CACH Program) or the White Pine Senior Center.