Duane Louis Medved

At his request, no funeral service will be held, but his family will have a celebration of life later in the year.

Duane Medved was born February 27, 1939 in Cle Elum, Washington to Louis and Flora Medved. He graduated high school in Ellensburg in 1957 and went directly into the U.S. Army September 23, 1957 to fulfill his draft obligation. His occupation in the Military was a Musician Instrumental as a clarinetist. After completing his six year draft, Duane attended Central Washington University and quit just shy or receiving his degree.

His occupations beginning in 1959 were varied. He worked as a service station employee, and then went on to be an auto mechanic at his own Service Station in Ellensburg. After moving to Seattle, Washington, he worked for a short time at Boeing and then worked as a Sales Rep and Manager for Texaco for 8 years. He dabbled at selling real estate for a short period and then worked for eight years at Ballinger Bowl as a pinsetter mechanic. The highlight of his career was he owned his own maintenance business called Medved’s Maintenance for 15 years as both handy man and mechanic. His customers were very good to him and although it was a lot of hard work and headaches, the rewards more than compensated for it. In 2001, he retired and shortly after moved back to Ellensburg.

Duane loved chocolate, growing orchids and roses, restoring family cars and listening to classical music and Jazz. In Ellensburg, he was an active participant in the Ellensburg Chapter of Relay for Life and was an active member of his class reunion committee until he moved to Burien to live his final months with his son’s family. Duane was married four times, and is survived by six sons, 12 grandchildren, 15 nieces and nephews, 13 cousins and all four wives. From 1977 until his death he was a member of a 12-step program and remained a sober friend a Bill W.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements entrusted to Bleitz Funeral Home of Seattle, Washington.