David Ivor Duncan

David Ivor Duncan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

David was born on October 28, 1945, in Dragerton, Utah, to Lindsey and LaRue Duncan. He was the youngest of three children.

David endured health challenges throughout the majority of his life. At the age of 10, David contracted polio and spent over three months confined in an iron lung. David described this period of time as the darkest moments of his life. However, David’s courageous spirit could not be broken by polio. This was all too evident when at the age of ten he decided that he had been in the hospital long enough and wanted to go home. When doctors told him he couldn’t leave the hospital, David defied their orders and escaped. He was later found by his mother several miles from the hospital walking down the road in his pajamas.

After surviving polio, David went on to graduate from West High School in 1964. He then attended the University of Utah, which led into a career in medicine working as a lab technician, which ultimately led him into the field of kidney dialysis with the help of Dr. Willem Kolff, the inventor of the artificial kidney. This career move would not only benefit him professionally, but would bring him friendships that would last the rest of his life. He managed dialysis units for Intermountain Health Care and the University of Utah.

While working at Cottonwood Hospital, David met Susan Proctor, the love of his life! They married in 1972 and had two children. They stood by each other with unwavering love for over fifty-one years.

David was a man of honesty and integrity. Behind the gruff exterior was a truly kind heart. He was a man of few words, but his love for his family and friends was evident. If you ever needed help, he was there. Dave was an absolute animal lover! He treated his dogs like family, they often ate better than most people. Dave donated to several animal foundations and even adopted a family of foxes that lived on the golf course behind his house. He would patiently wait every night on his deck for the foxes to appear so he could feed them.

We will miss him more than words can say, but we know he is now free of the health struggles he endured for so long. We picture him riding his motorcycle on to his next great adventure, reunited with family and friends who welcomed him home.

David is survived by his wife Susan; children Debbie Johnson Litz, Jennifer (Glenn) Sneddon and Matthew (Meredith) Duncan; grandchildren Nathan (Haylee), Makaylee, Noah, Morgan and Luke; sister Saundra Jack, his niece and nephews, and many dear friends who are also family. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Lynn, and brother-in-law Ronald Jack.

The family would like to thank the three unnamed men who came running and performed CPR trying to save David. You are angels. We also thank David’s wonderful neighbors who have offered support, the doctors and nurses at Intermountain Medical Center for their skill and compassion and everyone at Larkin Mortuary for their loving care of David and his family.

A celebration of life will be planned for late spring/early summer.