Jean Edmund George Duval, 97

Jean Edmund George Duval, 97, of Coeur d’Alene, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 9, 2014, at The Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene.

Born September 8, 1916, in East St. Louis, Illinois, to Eugene and Alice Versteegh Duval. Jean grew up in Argo, Illinois, as the oldest of four children: one brother, Julian Duval, and two sisters, Francis Butler and Rosemary Duval, who have all preceded him in death. He attended Argo High School where he excelled in math, science and music. He had to drop out of school to help support his family during hard times.

He married his loving wife, Anita L. Miller, May 20, 1946. They had three children: Mark Duval of Fairfax, VA; Michael Duval of Coeur d’Alene; and Pamela Comon of Prescott, AZ. He was widowed in 1959 and married for the second time to loving wife Marie Jean Sloboda Karkowski on November 9, 1962. They raised their six children in a loving, secure home in Oak Lawn, Il, including two children from Marie’s prior marriage, John Karkowski of Coeur d’Alene, and Patricia Wnek of Derry, NH; and their daughter Denise Duval Kimm of Coeur d’Alene.

He retired to Coeur d’Alene after 40 years as a supervisor at General Motors Diesel Locomotive Plant in LaGrange, Illinois. They had a long and happy retirement together enjoying fishing, traveling, camping and family, including eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, until Marie’s passing in 2010.

He loved music and played the bass and violin. Jean will be remembered for his strong faith in God and unfailing sense of duty to family and country as well as his intelligence, great sense of humor and curiosity for all things. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church where he served as an usher for many years.

A funeral mass was held Tuesday at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel, was entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Jean’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com