William “Bill” L. Duncan

William “Bill” L. Duncan passed away on March 14 in Goodyear, Ariz.

Bill was born on March 9, 1935, in Jefferson to Ada and Dewey Duncan. Bill lost his mother at the age of 9 and was raised by his father, Dewey Duncan, and within the embrace of a farming community in Greenbrier Twp. and attended high school in Bayard. Bill attended Mankato State College and married Donna Mae Yepsen from Jefferson in 1954.  

Bill received a degree in teaching/business administration from Mankato State College and taught at the high school level in Sioux Center until beginning his life career with the U.S. Secret Service in 1959 with his assignment to the Omaha field office.

In 1960, he was assigned to the White House detail and in 1969 he was promoted to assistant special agent in charge  and served within the presidential detail division. Bill served under presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford.

Bill transferred to the Denver field office in 1974 and retired in May 1977. After retiring from the U.S. Secret Service, Bill developed and managed a private security consulting business in Golden, Colo. 

Bill and Donna raised their family (Ronna, Jeffrey and Todd) in Falls Church, Va., and in Golden, Colo. Bill and Donna eventually retired in Goodyear, where they enjoyed frequent visits from their grandchildren and many relatives and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Donna Yepsen Duncan (April 19, 2020); parents Ada and Dewey Duncan; brother Duane Duncan and wife Doris; niece Eileen Duncan Palmer; brother Merritt Duncan; nephews Robert Duncan, Tom Duncan and Jay Duncan.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Ronna Duncan and husband Charles; son Jeffrey Duncan and wife Cathy; son Todd Duncan; grandchildren Ryan, Gianna, Paige, Julianna, Alexandria, Kylee, Wyatt, and one great-grandchild, Jacob. Bill is also survived by Bonnie Owens Duncan, of Jefferson; Donald and Alice Yepsen, of Jefferson; and Lea Yepsen, of Ankeny; and many nieces and nephews.

Our father’s tears and fears may have been unseen, his love may have been quiet and unexpressed, but his care and protection of his family will remain as a pillar of strength throughout our lives. We were raised to trust, respect and love each other, to follow the Golden Rule and to be strong in good times and in bad ... and now we know why you always told us to be strong.  You knew that one day we would need the strength to bear your loss. We truly never understood what the words “I miss you” were until both our parents were gone. Mom and Dad, we miss you!

A shared service honoring Bill and his wife Donna will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson at 1:30 p.m. May 16. Burial will follow the service at Greenbrier Cemetery, and an informal luncheon will be provided at the Methodist Church fellowship hall following burial.