The passing of Duane McNeilly
My grandfather Duane McNeilly passed away today around 3 PM, peacefully, in his house, surrounded by loving family. It was exactly when, where and how he had chosen. The aftermath of his death had the expected high emotions and crying, but it was punctuated with laughter and gallows humor, which is exactly as he would have wanted. It's just a pity he wasn't there to join in. It's hard for me to imagine him passing in any better way.
He had lived a remarkably full life. He enlisted in the military immediately out of High School, fought in the pacific theater during WWII, and was stationed in Germany afterward, with his wife Gwen and his two daughters, Kathy and Leanna, during the clean-up immediately after the war. After that, they were stationed in Turkey for years, where Kathy and Leanna grew up. The stories they have from their time in Turkey are endless and fascinating, and the objects that my grandmother Gwen still has from that time are stunning and beautiful.
When he left the military, they settled in Virginia City, Nevada, and lived there still until about 10 years ago, when they moved down to Ventura, to be closer to family and civilization in their later years.
I'm sad I didn't take the time to learn more about him. I can say, however, that he was wonderful man, with an amazing (if crude) sense of humor. He lived a full life, and left the world a better place than he found it.
He had lived a remarkably full life. He enlisted in the military immediately out of High School, fought in the pacific theater during WWII, and was stationed in Germany afterward, with his wife Gwen and his two daughters, Kathy and Leanna, during the clean-up immediately after the war. After that, they were stationed in Turkey for years, where Kathy and Leanna grew up. The stories they have from their time in Turkey are endless and fascinating, and the objects that my grandmother Gwen still has from that time are stunning and beautiful.
When he left the military, they settled in Virginia City, Nevada, and lived there still until about 10 years ago, when they moved down to Ventura, to be closer to family and civilization in their later years.
I'm sad I didn't take the time to learn more about him. I can say, however, that he was wonderful man, with an amazing (if crude) sense of humor. He lived a full life, and left the world a better place than he found it.