Duaine Leonhard Einan, founder of Einan’s Funeral Home, passed away peacefully at home December 26, 2005 surrounded by friends and loved ones. He was born June 19, 1923 to Hans and Agnes Einan in Whitefish Montana where he grew up. He was a member of the first ski team at Whitefish High School where he participated in their first state wide ski championship winning the short downhill slalom helping the team take first place. His friends dubbed him “Pine Tar” because he loved to ski through the trees. With his friends, he skied The Big Mountain in Whitefish before the resort was formally established. They would ski the whole weekend and everyone except the car driver would ski to school Monday morning.

He married Rosemary “Bobbie” Saurey in 1943. Duaine joined the Marine Corps and served during WWII participating in the Pacific Campaign in Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. His unit was scheduled for the invasion of Japan when, thankfully the war ended.

After the war he and Bobbie moved to Richland where he worked at General Electric for a short while and then with the support of his family and the GI Bill he graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington and then on to Cypress College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles, California, graduating with honors. His goal was to establish his own funeral home in Richland, which opened in 1956 across the street from Resthaven Cemetery on Williams Boulevard. Duaine and Bobbie helped establish the Richland Cemetery Association in 1959 and when Sunset Memorial Gardens was developed, built the new funeral home adjacent to the cemetery in 1970.

Duaine was an avid skier and on weekends was a ski instructor at White Pass for many years. He had a passion for golf and was a member of Meadow Springs Country Club and was very proud of his hole-in-one during a tournament.

Duaine and Edna Mercer were married July 5, 1987 and have lived for the past 18 years in Meadow Springs. They enjoyed many hours of fishing on their boat, their several trips to Hawaii and the quiet moments driving through the Horse Heaven Hills. He enjoyed their backyard, feeding the local birds and squirrels. He loved his two poodles, Bell and Sadie. He looked forward to his weekly visits with his brother, Russell where Russell’s cat Cinders could play with the two lively poodles.

Over the years Duaine was very involved in many community organizations including The Marine Corps Leauge, V.F.W. Cook-Erickson Post 7952, The Navy League, The American Legion, The American Cancer Society, Hospice, The Masons, and the Richland Rotary Club. He was a charter member of Richland Lutheran Church, and active in the Republican Party. He also served as a director on the Washington State Funeral Director’s Board.

Duaine is survived by his wife Edna; daughters Terry Bock Tom and Debbie Valerio Henrique; son Don Laura; brother Russell; stepdaughters Debbie Richman Tim and Chris Mercer; step sons Wayne Mercer Wanda and Chuck Mercer Marcy; and stepdaughter Jenae Thornberry; nineteen grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Hans and Agnes Einan, first wife Rosemary “Bobbie” and son Andre.

The family would like to thank the Tri-City Hospice Chaplaincy for their help and support.

Viewing will be Wednesday, December 28, 2005 from 2:00-6:00 PM at Einan’s Funeral Home, Richland. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Thursday, December 29th, also at Einan’s Funeral Home, with entombment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.