On May 27, 2015, John Duenow died following a year-long battle against pancreatic cancer. John was born in St. Ansgar, Iowa, on April 29, 1936, son of Carl and Edna Duenow. He had four brothers and three sisters. John enjoyed music from an early age, performing in church and school events. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1954. That fall, he traveled with Carol Parkinson of Le Mars, Iowa, presenting musical assembly programs for schools. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Education and went on to receive his MA and MFA in music performance. He was a member of Delta Chi fraternity.  While at the university, he met Sally Shook of Burlington, Iowa. They were married in 1959 and had three boys: Eric John, Andrew Alan and Christopher Todd.

John had a teaching career in music which included positions in Moline, Ill.; Davenport, Iowa; Macomb, Ill., and 30 years at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. He enjoyed teaching private voice lessons, opera workshop and music theatre. He himself performed in opera, oratorio, music theater and gave yearly voice recitals. He was part of a USO tour which traveled to Korea and Okinawa presenting the musical, "Godspell." He was church choir director and worked with Lutheran Women in Harmony and other musical groups both in Spokane and Mesa, Ariz., where the couple spent many winters.

In 1975, John and Sally were instrumental in starting Lutheran Marriage Encounter and presented encounter weekends throughout the U.S. John was active in Emmanuel Lutheran church in Cheney and Advent Lutheran in Spokane Valley. In 2000 they moved to Liberty Lake for retirement. There he was a member and treasurer of the Liberty Lake Kiwanis. 

John was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his wife, Sally, three sons, four grandchildren, two brothers, one sister and numerous nieces and nephews. 

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. July 25 at Advent Lutheran Church. Suggested memorials are Lutheran Community Services of Spokane or Pancreatic Cancer at www.pancan.org.