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Dan Duffy
Daniel (Sonny) H. Duffy, 73, died in his sleep of a heart attack at his winter home in Arrivaca, Ariz., on Nov. 9, 2009. Judy, his beloved wife, was at his side.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., Dec. 1, 2009, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home, along with an honor guard presentation by the 40/8. There will then be a military honor inurnment at the Idaho Veteranšs Cemetery in Boise at 3 p.m. that same day.
Dan was born May 2, 1936, in Mountain Home, to Daniel H. and Jetty A. Duffy.
He grew up loving Idahošs mountains and gained many experiences ranging from carpenter work to logging and ranching.
Dan graduated from Mountain Home High School and started down a path with the United States Air Force that would last over 20 years. Eventually joining him on this journey was Ella Pischke. They were married in 1962 and traveled the world with Danšs assignments. Their family grew as daughter Jetty was born in the Philippines and daughter Ellie was born in California.
While in the Air Force Dan became trained as a Certified Scuba Instructor, expanding his love of the Idahošs mountains to also include the worldšs oceans. One of his highlights was diving off the coast of Turkey with members of Jacques Cousteaušs team and retrieving sunken artifacts.
Returning to the states after overseas adventures, Dan became a licensed pilot and added the love of flying to his list. The family celebrated with a trip over the Arctic Circle while stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Dan retired as a tech sergeant communications specialist and returned to his Idaho mountains.
He then began a second career with Idaho Parks and Recreation, building and maintaining many of Idahošs treasured parks, including Ponderosa in McCall and Bruneau Sand Dunes.
Dan and Ella did eventually part ways but remained friends.
After retiring from Parks and Recreation, Dan was able to become more active with the American Legion and his travels took him to Seattle, Wash., where he met Judy Buckley.
Judy and Dan married in 1986 and together they enjoyed life off the beaten path. They took the time to travel off the interstate and see nature at her best.
Dan continued in the American Legion and its elite division Forty/Eight. Dan held many elected offices including Post Commander of Mountain Home, 4th
District Commander, 40/8 Chef de Gard and West Division Sous Chef. Most recently, he was appointed to National and Homeland Security.
Dan and Judy made Featherville their home where they volunteered countless hours as EMTs.
They also enjoyed their ATVs, putting miles on their motor home and spoiling their grandchildren. Arrivaca was their winter home where Dan enjoyed calling family and friends to taunt them with their warm, sunny weather.
Dan stayed busy with his many "projects." He could be found welding, crafting wood, working with ceramics or playing with his backhoe. His favorite activity, however, was relaxing with Judy at the end of the day, enjoying many sunsets and starry nights over a glass of wine.
Dan was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He was soft hearted for any stray person or animal that needed help. His larger-than-life smile and personality matched that gorgeous thick head of silver hair.
Dan is survived by: his wife, Judy; daughters Jetty and Ellie; sisters Patty, Sharon and Bunny (Jetty); a stepson, Hal, and stepdaughter, Dawn, and ten grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and stepmother, Doris Duffy.