Duane W. Starman was born October 15, 1939 at home on the family farm near Elgin, Nebraska to William T. and Helen M. (Penne) Starman.
Duane was the second of six children, and as a child, he did chores daily, rode horses, and slept in a dresser drawer. He was so proud that his dad built up the pedal on the tractor so Duane could drive it when he was just eight years old, but that ended when he rolled the tractor.
The family moved to Omaha while Duane was a teenager. Duane married Kathleen “Kay” Roth on April 15, 1961 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and to this union, three children were born, Pam, Jeff, and Melissa. They met on a blind date, and he took her to the stock car races.
Duane and Kay made their home in Omaha, where they raised their family.
Duane and his friend Bob Spomer enlisted in the United States Navy in November 1961, so that they weren’t drafted. He served overseas in Guam and Okinawa in the CB’s (Construction Battalion), and was honorably discharged in February 1965.
Duane worked in heavy equipment operation for many many years. He also worked for National Cash Register and Control Data, before starting his own business, Nebraska-Iowa Computer Supplies in 1987.
Duane liked to stay busy. He was a hard worker, but also found time to indulge his many hobbies. He enjoyed sports of all varieties, and was always golfing, bowling, throwing horse shoes, or playing volleyball or softball. He also loved spending time with Kay and the kids. He and Kay would go square dancing, and he would coach Jeff and Melissa. They would also go camping nearly every summer weekend with favorite places the Milford Dam in Kansas.
Duane was a proud, fastidious, and generous man. He saw the world in black and white, and had a close-knit group of friends. He enjoyed watching old westerns and playing cards. Duane would savor a bit of ice cream, a bowl of popcorn, or a raisin pie, or could be found sipping a whiskey and water. He appreciated a business lunch at Cascio’s, and was always working on some project.
In later years, ski trips to Colorado replaced the camping trips, and he and Kay would take numerous trips, the one to New Zealand being a favorite.
Duane lost his battle with Alzheimer’s on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at Prairie Meadows in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 79 years, 9 months, and 30 days.
He was preceded in death by his parents William & Helen Starman and sister Patricia Kallhoff. Duane is survived by his wife Kay, children Pam & John Lowndes of Papillion, Jeff & Colleen Starman of Omaha, and Melissa & Chad McCain of Glendale, AZ, 7 grandsons, 2 great grandchildren, siblings Barbara & Jerry Lamberti of CA, Carol Rican of WA, Darryl & Renee Starman of CO, and Diane & Mike Micek of TX, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jerry & Fran Roth of Minnesota.
