BOONE, Iowa—David R. Duncan, 70, of Boone, passed away Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Hearth Stone Memory Care Unit in Boone.
David was born January 29, 1955, in Boone, the son of George R. and Marilyn (Zunkel) Duncan. He attended school in Boone and graduated from Boone High School in 1973.
On July 1, 1977, David was united in marriage to Debora Dodd at the First Presbyterian Church in Boone, and together they were blessed with three children: Molly, John, and Mark.
David worked as a welder at Quinn Machinery for 21 years before beginning a 23-year career with the Boone Community Schools; he retired in 2017. As a custodian, he loved sharing small treasures (and occasionally a snake!) with students, and forming meaningful connections with children who needed an extra adult in their corner.
He also dedicated many years to Little League, both coaching and serving on the board, and took great pride in the teams he led—especially when coaching his own children. Later in life, nothing brought him more joy than watching his grandsons take the field as well.
Always handy with almost any tool, David loved tractors and muscle cars. He restored his grandfather’s Allis Chalmers tractor and drove it frequently, taking all of his kids and grandsons for rides across the years. He also tinkered with and worked on race cars for many years, enthusiastically watching and helping others with their race cars.
David loved the outdoors and could often be found collecting rocks or searching for arrowheads and other Indian artifacts. He lived to improve his timber ground and over his lifetime planted more than 10,000 trees. A lifelong dog lover, David was never happier than when he was playing with his dog.
An avid hunter and fisherman, during deer season he especially enjoyed time spent with his cousins, deer hunting, visiting, and processing meat together. He treasured his trips to Canada to go walleye fishing with his brother and good friends. He was also a proud member of the National Turkey Federation and enjoyed attending its banquets.
Most of all, Dave was a family man. He raised his children with steady guidance and quiet strength, and later cherished every minute spent with his grandsons, whether playing with trains, building with Legos, having Nerf gun battles, or playing outside.
He was preceded in death by his father, George R. Duncan.
David is survived by his wife of 48 years, Debora Duncan; his mother, Marilyn Duncan; his children, Molly (Steve) Penberthy, John (Michelle) Duncan, and Mark (Matt) Sengin; three grandsons, Alex Penberthy, Andrew Duncan, and Will Duncan; his siblings, Donald (Peggy) Duncan, Duane (Shirlyn) Duncan, and Diane (Troy) Nichols; several aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be Monday, January 5, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel, 1006 6th Street, Boone. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Chapel. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the Pilot Mound Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left for David’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com
David Duncan, 70, Boone, Iowa
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