DUANE L. MCDONALD

Duane McDonald, 77, met his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, December 22nd at his home in Twin Falls. Duane was born in Rupert, Idaho on December 1, 1935, to proud parents William and Catherine and older brother Ken. Duane graduated from Twin Falls High in 1954. His hard working parents had enough money to send just one son to college, so, shortly after graduating from high school, Duane joined the U.S. Navy! As a regular seaman Duane had an opportunity to tour the Coronado Amphibious Base where he saw a group of sailors playing volleyball during work hours. As he told it, "I saw those guys having fun and knew I wanted to join them." That group of guys were members of the U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) - a Special Forces group that preceded the Navy SEALS. His buddies on the tour ribbed him that he would never make it through the rigorous training. Duane easily completed UDT training as a member of UDT Class 16 and served with UDT-11. When UDT merged into SEAL Team, Duane met further qualifications to serve as a member of SEAL Team ONE. Duane completed two tours in Viet Nam as a Navy SEAL before retiring honorably with a medical discharge and receiving honors for his military service. Duane married his love Carol Machen (and her two kids Michelle and Sam) in 1970. He took on his new family with the same energy he devoted to his military training. Duane was always present at school events and baseball, softball, and Charger football games. Professionally, Duane found success as a real estate broker and developer. Duane professed Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at Midway Baptist Church where he later joined as staff. Duane and Carol were devoted to each other until her untimely passing from cancer in 1992. We are ever grateful for his love to our Mom and find peace knowing they are together now. We can't imagine what other families talk about over holiday dinners. In Duane's home we were entertained with funny stories about training South Viet Nam soldiers, escaping the Viet Cong, and general SEAL Team glory. Those glasses of Cold Duck sure helped! Thank you Dad for the wonderful memories. Hooyah!! Duane is preceded in death by his parents William and Catherine, his brother Kenneth, his aunt Evelyn, and his wife Carol. He is survived by his two children and their spouses Michelle (Joe) and Sam (Gina) and his grandchildren Carson, Taylor, Isabella, and Michelle. Other family members celebrating Duane's life include Gary, Karen, Patty Gail, Mary, and Ken. Special friends also join us to celebrate Duane's life - thank you Elizabeth Leis for your friendship and love. A Celebration of Duane's life will be held on January 3, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home 2551 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls with Full Military Honors by the Magic Valley Veterans and Auxiliary. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Navy SEAL Foundation, 1619 D Street, Bldg. 5326, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23459 or www.navysealsfoundation.org. Duane would be proud.