In April of 1993 dad was first diagnose with having throat cancer. In June of 1993 dad had his throat cancer operation. The Dr had removed his voice box.

Dad had put up a 2 yr battle fighting his cancer! Never did I ever see him cry from the pain he was in nor complain why me, when he was a very sick , frail man from all his cancer treatments!

June 20th 1995 dad had lost his battle to cancer. He passed away 11 pm at the Wilkes-Barre, Pa @ Va Hospital.He was only 51 years old ( very young yet.) :(

My dad was a hard worker! He worked most of his life as a logger, driving the skidder. ( he used to work for Duane Canfield & Walter Edsell & Kenny Hoover until his heath no longer allowed him to work.)He served 2 years over in Vietnam.

He married the former Elsie (Johnson) Strope on July 28, 1972 who he met in 1968 after coming home from being station over in Vietnam. He and Elsie only had 1 child ( would of been twins, But mom lost one at 4 mo. still carried the other) a daughter Debbie was born on Nov. 30,1970. ( who was the apple to her daddies eyes)

Duane was a family man, always lending a helping hand to anyone in need.Summer he would see him out in the hay fields...Haying it along side his Father Leigh, brother Donald,cousin Raymond Williams.

Duane loved auto racing, spending many of Saturday evenings going to Shangi-La In Owego, Ny. Watching wrestling on T.V. At least making 1 trip a yr to Canada with the men ( week long fishing trip)