Memorial to be July 13 For ‘Duke’ Dunsing, 90

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Created on Wednesday, 10 July 2024 12:50

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Daniel D. “Duke” Dunsing

On June 28, 2024, Daniel D. “Duke” Dunsing peacefully left for his heavenly home. He was 90 years old.
Duke was born March 20, 1934, in La Grange, Missouri, to Rev. Edward Henry Dunsing and Martha ‘‘Mae’’ Mary McKinney Dunsing. His father was a Baptist pastor in various small Missouri towns.
Duke was 12 years old before he went as far as 20 miles away from home; money was tight and gas was expensive. As a teenager, he worked for various farmers to help provide food for his family. He enjoyed repairing the large farm equipment. His employers loved him as he was an excellent worker.
At 21, Duke was drafted into the Army and served almost two years. After his service, he attended Kirksville College, which is now Truman State University, in Kirksville, Missouri. Trying to decide on a major, he dropped out two times, but came back and graduated in 1961 with a major in mathematics.
A college friend was teaching in Sitka and suggested Duke apply for teaching here. Duke moved to Sitka in 1961, renting a house owned by, and neighbored to, Rubye and Al Rottluff, who became his “adopted” parents when Duke’s father died shortly after his move.
Duke started work for the Sitka School District in 1961, teaching 7th grade math, then high school math. In 1967 he was honored as Alaska State Teacher of the Year. Duke met Mae in September 1967, when she came to Sitka to visit Aunt Fran and Uncle Frank Clayton. The new airport meant jets could land in Sitka, so that encouraged Mae to visit. Cousins Steele Clayton and Sandy Clayton Sunde (now Frank), who knew Duke as a teacher, thought Duke and Mae should be introduced. They met and fell in love and married three months later. Duke and Mae were attracted by common religious beliefs, both being raised in pastor’s homes, and also learning to work from a young age, to buy necessities, etc. So they loved each other‘s values. They have been married 56 years.
Duke’s work in education continued as did his own education. In 1968 he went on sabbatical at University of Oregon where he earned a master’s in math education. When he returned to Sitka he became the principal at Blatchley Junior High School. In 1973 he earned a master’s in education administration from University of Alaska Southeast. Duke retired from his position as principal and from the Sitka School District in 1983. As principal, Mr. Dunsing is remembered for being kind, fair, strict, and highly respected.
Duke was also a commercial fisherman. Al Rottluff, his Sitka dad, suggested Duke should fish to supplement his teaching wage. He started fishing in 1963, and in 1964 he bought a small troller, which he then traded for the Lanus. In 1980 Duke had the Lisa Mae built. He learned to become a good fisherman from Al and Al’s brother Les. Duke had a Coast Guard license to pilot boats up to 50 tons.
Duke belonged to the Seafood Producers Co-op from 1964 to 2000. After retiring from education, he was elected to the Seafood Producers Cooperative board of directors. He was on the board  six years and was president for three of those years.
Duke also was involved with the Civil Air Patrol. He got his pilot’s license and flew small planes. He even went on some search missions.
Duke and Mae took up rental housing starting in 1972 when they purchased several rental housing units. They worked hard to provide good places to rent. The goal was to have happy renters… and be happy landlords. For 30 years their good friend Gail Erickson has worked side-by-side with Duke to solve housing repair issues.
In 1983 Duke began repairing sewing machines. When he was principal, the machines at school had problems and he learned how to work on them. After he retired as a principal, he purchased dealership for Viking sewing machines from Mrs. Porter, when she sold her store. Duke was a popular sewing machine repairman with Sitka Sewing Machines and all the quilters loved him for the 36 years he was in business.
Duke had a life of serving others. He was generous and a faithful servant of God. Duke attended Grace Harbor Church since 1994 and actively participated and served. He helped build the new church and for years ran the sound system, on Sundays. He straightened chairs and put them away after service. Each Sunday he was a greeter. In 1998 he went with Pastor Paul MacArthur and a team to Russia to help build a church. Duke was always finding ways to serve. He was a living example of serving God and others.
Duke was loving, kind and always helping people. He made an impact on  many people with his positive leadership.  He had lived in the Sitka Pioneers Home since July 20, 2023.
Duke is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, (Lura) Mae Dunsing of Sitka; his sisters, Alice Gosney of Palmyra, Missouri, Eunice Dunsing of Quincy, Illinois, and Darlene Clemens of Vandalia, Ohio; nephew, Dale (Susie) Gosney of Palmyra; niece, Carol (Bob) Wyatt, Canton, Missouri; and adopted grandson, Solomon Davis of Sitka.
Mae may be contacted at the Sitka Pioneers Home, 120 Katlian Street, Sitka, AK 99835
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at Grace Harbor Church. To view the service online, visit www.sitkagraceharbor.com
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to remember Duke through American Bible Society (www.americanbible.com), Samaritans Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org) or Sitka Young Life (sitka.younglife.org).

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