Duane Lansverk

Duane Lansverk, 94, died peacefully on September 3, 2024, in Windsor, Colorado, with Peggy, his wife of 70 years, holding his hand. He was born November 2, 1929, on the family farm in Sheyenne, North Dakota. When farming wasn’t going so well for his parents Oscar and Marie, the family, now with three boys, Owen, Duane, and Norman, moved to town in Minot in 1939. Before getting a house, the whole family lived in a trailer while Oscar drove around the state selling Farmers Union insurance. A treasured memory from the Minot days was when in the sixth grade, Duane’s basketball team won the City League championship game, which was then discussed in detail at every reunion for the next 50 years. Later, he participated in the activities of the Farmers Union Youth Program, taking leadership roles, including making speeches and attending the national convention in Estes Park, CO, which is one thing that led to the reasons that he fell in love with the West. 

Because he was so bright, he was encouraged to take the Harvard entrance exam by his favorite high school English teacher (who happened to be the sister of Louis L’amor!). He received a scholarship and was off to Cambridge for four years where he met the love of his life, Peggy (a student at Boston University) at the Lutheran Student Association meetings. When she moved to Kansas, he continued to court her by writing clever letters for two years before they became engaged. By then he was at Yale Law School, earning a J.D. in 1954. Peggy and Duane were married that summer. With the Korean War draft still going, he volunteered for two years in the army, ending up in Thule, Greenland for his service. Afterwards, wanting the experience of clerking for a state Supreme Court Justice, he was fortunate enough to land a job with Justice Robert Finley in Olympia, WA. It was a wonderful start to his legal career. One year later, Duane and Peggy chose to move to Vancouver, WA, where he spent his 50-year career as a trial attorney, at the Landerholm, Memovich, Lansverk, and Whitesides Law Firm. He was proud to be invited to join the finest firm in Vancouver, with attorneys who also became lifelong friends. He had great success, earning many honors, including being inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. 

Duane and Peggy had three children, Karen, Marvin, and Eric, and his family was the most important thing in his life. He spent many hours with the family and their activities. 

He was also very involved in the community, serving on the Vancouver School Board for nine years. He was active in the Vancouver Lions Club, including being the top seller of raffle tickets for their annual fundraiser for years: (he wouldn’t take no for an answer!) And one of his passions was doing pro bono legal service for Emil Fries Piano Hospital, which trained blind young adults to have careers. Together with Peggy he was active in Trinity Lutheran Church in every capacity imaginable, and was president of the Bboard of Holden Village, an ecumenical retreat center in the Cascade mountains above Lake Chelan. In retirement, Duane loved to travel, taking many trips, including to Norway, to visit the ancestral family farms. He especially enjoyed his woodworking hobby, building beautiful furniture, bookends, and frames in his extensive shop. He could often be found collecting hardwoods from buildings being demolished and finding small pieces while traveling, from which he created memorable gifts. He even crafted the table on which this obituary is being typed. 

Duane and Peggy moved to Windsor, Colorado in 2017, when Duane started his long journey with dementia. They first lived with Karen and Dave, and eventually at Good Samaritan Retirement Home. Duane remained a happy, contented man, with Peggy as his loving wife and caregiver.

Besides Peggy, Duane leaves Karen (Dave) Pederson, Marvin (Kay), and Eric (Susan), six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Donations in Duane’s memory can be made to Holden Village, Dementia Together, or to any other charitable organization of your choice.