Jack Eugene Duncan 12/1/1924 - 5/2/2019

Jack passed away peacefully at his Newcastle home surrounded by his family. He is survived by his daughter Carla Cox, son David (Judy) Duncan, and daughter Linda (Neil) Wyse. Other survivors include four grandchildren, two great grandsons, nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Cleona, Brother William Duncan, sister Fay Leonard and his parents John and Eva Duncan.Jack grew up in Stirling City, CA., a logging town northeast of Paradise. His family moved to Vallejo, CA while Jack was in high school. In 1943 Jack enlisted in the Army as an Aviation Cadet, attended navigator training and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in 1944. He served in the Army Air Force as a navigator on C-46 transport aircraft in the Pacific Theater, and was slated to transport troops into Japan for the mainland invasion when the war ended. After returning to civilian life, Jack attended UC Berkley, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His first job as a new graduate was in Richmond, CA, designing and building a hydraulic press. He and his young family moved to Livermore, CA in 1953, where he worked at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in nuclear device development for 29 years.Jack met his future wife Cleona in 1943 when he was stationed briefly in Colorado during WWII. They corresponded during the war, and were married in Vallejo, California in 1948. They raised their three children in Livermore, California. The family was very active, going on camping and jeep trips, water skiing, snow skiing, backpacking, white water rafting, and travel vacations to Alaska, Canada, and the western states. Following their retirement, Jack and Cleona built a home outside of Newcastle where they enjoyed their country life for 37 years. They continued to live an active life together, traveling to Europe, China, Greece, and around the United States, and enjoyed activities with their children and grandchildren. A fourth generation California native, Jack developed an interest in researching transportation history in Northern California, authoring two books: To Donner Pass From the Pacific and A Study of Cape Horn Construction on the Central Pacific Railroad. His passion for repairing motor vehicles continued into retirement, leading to his restoration of a variety of antique cars, in which he and Cleona travelled on Model T Club tours and in various local parades.During his life, Jack was active in his son's Boy Scout troop, the Mother Lode Model T Ford Club, the Placer County Historical Society, Native Sons of the Golden West, and the Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society. He served on the Placer County Grand Jury.A memorial service will be held Thursday, May 16 at 1:30p.m. at Pioneer United Methodist Church, 1338 Lincoln Way, Auburn, California with a reception to follow.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends of Jack make a donation in his name to the Stirling City Historical Society , the Placer County Historical Society, or a charity of their choice.For more information contact Chapel of the Hills at (530) 885-3773 or visit our website atwww.chapelofthehills-auburn.com