Duane Van Midgley's Obituary
Duane Van Midgley
1932 - 2021
Duane Van Midgley 1932 – 2021 Duane Van Midgley, 89, passed away peacefully June 28, 2021. He was born January 29, 1932, to Eugene Thurgood Midgley and Gertrude Vandersteen Midgley.
Duane grew up in the Sugarhouse area, attended schools there, and graduated from South High. After a year of college, he was called to serve in the Netherlands Mission but that was recalled when the draft board stopped the LDS church from sending out missionaries because of the Korean War. He then served two years in Korea in the U.S. army. When he returned home from Korea he once again was called to the Netherlands Mission for two years. Duane learned the Dutch language and interacted with the people so well that he was asked to extend his mission, which he did, and he was sent to Belgium where he served for the better part of another year.
When Duane returned home from his mission he attended BYU where he earned a degree in accounting and then became a CPA. Then he moved to California where he met and married Ina Frandsen in the Los Angeles Temple. They lived in Hollywood and Sun Valley for five years then returned to Utah where they built their present home in Holladay.
Duane worked as a CPA for all of his working years and helped many people with their taxes. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as stake clerk for approximately 27 years. He loved that church calling.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Eugene L. (Ted) Midgley and Norman Van Midgley; brothers-in-law Earl James (Jim) Hutchins Jr., Ivin Frandsen, Ray Frandsen, Sheldon Bjerregaard, and Keller Christensen; sisters-in-law Marylyn Jackson Midgley, Inez Frandsen, Mary Frandsen, Erma Frandsen, Edna Bjerregaard, and Marian Christenson.
Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife Ina, his three children David Lafe Midgley (Dana), Susan Smithwick, and Teresa Shorts (Darren); eight grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; sisters Lois Hutchins and Dixie Wagner; brothers-in-law Bill Wagner and Allen Frandsen; sisters-in-law Helen Jane Pond Midgley, Louise Pratt, and Evelyn Frandsen; many nieces and nephews, friends, and neighbors.
We offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to granddaughter Jill and her husband Josh Silva for the tremendous love and care they have shown Duane for the last several years (and that worked both ways.) We would also like to thank Jackie, Maddie, Gabe, and Matt Silva who especially looked after their great grandfather.
Thank you to the Solstice Hospice for their care and the Holladay 24th ward for their contributions.
A private family viewing (including extended family and invited guests) will be held on Wednesday, July 7, at the Premier Mortuary (67 East, 8000 South) from 10:00 am – 10:30 am. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am at the Elysian Gardens Cemetery located at 1075 East, 4580 South (College Street) in Millcreek, Utah.
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