Obituary of Duane Gage

Duane Derwent Gage was born in September, 1954 to Harvey and Clarice Gage at the Nipawin Hospital. He grew up in the Murphy Creek area and attended the Murphy Creek school. When the country school closed, he was bused to Gronlid school where he finished high school. Later he went to the University of Saskatchewan taking Vocational Agriculture. He decided that wasn't for him and didn't go back the next year. On October 11th 1980, Duane married Elaine Ens, daughter of Abram and Anne Ens at Bethany Mennonite Church Lost River SK. They had three children Jonathan, Jana and Jerica. His first road construction job was with Healey Construction. He always said that everything he knew about road construction he learned from Bud Healey. Then he worked for the Department of Highways. After he got married, he worked for the RM of Nipawin so he could be closer to home. Winters were spent logging for Merlin Vahl. He helped his Dad farm as much as he could. After his Dad passed away, he farmed with his brother Daryl. Later it became too complicated to balance work and farming so he rented his land out to Cochrans. He then drove a truck for Parkland Dehy. After that, he drove a truck for Julian Ens Trucking. His last jobs were long haul anhydrous ammonia for Keith’s Hauling in the spring and fall and road construction for D&R Contracting in the summer. He was able take the winters off then to spend more time with his family. Duane enjoyed fishing, camping, boating on the river, snowmobiling, motorcycling, canoeing, target shooting, getting firewood, talking on the phone, texting, browsing classified ads, visiting neighbours, church activities, going for coffee, looking after his granddaughters, going to auction sales, going to yard sales, shopping at Salvation Army Thrift stores, the yearly Salvation Army Men’s camps, and going on road trips (showing us the roads he worked on). He retired in 2017 and shortly after was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. He lost his battle with cancer on February 22 2021. Duane never met a stranger and will be forever missed. Duane was predeceased by his parents Harvey and Clarice Gage; infant twin brother and sister, Edwin and Sharon; in-laws, Abram and Anne Ens; brother-in-law Edward Ens; his uncles, Victor (Ruth) Gage, Vernon Peterson, and Orville Peterson; his aunt Viola (George) Mueller; and cousin, Robert Gage Duane is survived by wife Elaine of 40 years; his son Jonathan; his daughters Jana (Devon) Lewis and Jerica (Glen) Sherry; much loved granddaughters, Olivia Lewis, Vanessa and Georgia Sherry; and step granddaughter Mercedez Sherry; brother, Daryl (Lorrine) Gage; nephew, Vernon; his cousins, Barry, Eric and Anna Marie Gage, David (Leah) Mueller; and many Friends and Relatives.