Lester Duncan

Lester Leroy Duncan, 92, of Prairie Village, Kansas passed away surrounded by family on December 27, 2006. Lester was born on March 17, 1914 to Russell George and Margaret Nunn Duncan in Rockville, Missouri. He attended several schools in the Kansas City area including Paseo High School, and graduated from Central High School in 1931 where he met his wife of 50 years, Dorothy Goodwin Creason Duncan, who passed away in 1986.

After completing high school, Les was employed during the day by the Cowden Manufacturing Company as an apprentice in the cutting room of the overall factory. In the evening he attended Kansas City Junior College and then the Kansas City Law School (now UMKC School of Law). He received a Bachelor of Law Degree in 1936 and a Master of Law degree in 1938 and was designated Order of the Coif. He was admitted to the bar in Missouri, Minnesota and the Supreme Court, and was affiliated with Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity.

He began his career in 1940 with Farmer's Insurance Group and except when he was transferred to Oklahoma, Minnesota and California for ten years, lived in the Kansas City area. During his forty year career with Farmers he started the claims and legal departments before becoming a managing officer. Among positions held were Claims Representative, Manager of a Branch Claims Office, Assistant to the President of Truck Underwriters Association and resident Vice President and Manager of the Midwest Region of Farmers Insurance Group. At retirement he was president of Farmers Insurance Company, Inc.

He served as President of the Board of Governors for the Kansas Automobile Insurance Plan for many years; President of the Missouri Auto Assigned Risk Plan – serving also on similar plans in Arkansas, Iowa and Oklahoma; Board of Governors Kansas Fair Plan; Board of Governors, Missouri Fair Plan. He was an Honorary Assistant Insurance Commissioner in the State of Oklahoma and an honorary Professor at the University of South Dakota. He was a past Chairman of the Citizens Committee Reviewing Remuneration of Elected Johnson County Officials.

He was active in the United Way Campaign serving first as head of the Men's Division and later was General Chairman for Johnson County for three years. He was commended for outstanding community leadership by the Civil Defense Agency.

He was a member of Old Mission United Methodist Church and the Yankie Sunday School Class for fifty years and had served as a youth sponsor and trustee.

During World War II he served as a civilian in the Navy in Norman, Oklahoma as assistant to the Personnel Officer where he recruited people from the surrounding small towns to fill employment positions.

He was a member of the 822 Club of the Kansas City Club and Milburn Country Club. For the past twenty years he has had a winter home in La Quinta, CA and membership in La Quinta Country Club. Golf has been a life long passion – first on Saturdays (but never on Sunday) during his working career and then a daily activity in retirement. A highlight was playing in the Bob Hope Desert Classic in La Quinta with Arnold Palmer and out playing him by one stroke on national television. Arnie came up to him and said, "The amateur should not beat the Pro!" Playing gin rummy with family or friends was another daily activity.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, his brother Russell George Duncan, Jr., and a grandson Brady Duncan Stanton. He is survived by his second wife, Dorothy Jacobs Duncan whom he married in 1990; his sister Helen Duncan Murphy, Independence, MO; two daughters - Judith Duncan Stanton (Roger), Prairie Village and Patti Duncan Crawford (Sam), Shawnee; four grandsons – Jeffrey Stanton (Sarah), Overland Park, Todd Stanton, Los Angeles, CA, Kurt Niemackl (Aimey), Lenexa and Kyle Niemackl (Judy), Shawnee; eleven great grandchildren - Kathryn, Duncan and Charlie Stanton, Overland Park; Henry and Peterson Stanton, Leawood; Nicholaus, Madeline, Jason and Joseph Niemackl, Lenexa and Allison and Mason Niemackl, Shawnee; step children – Andrew Jacobs, Leawood, Jacqueline Caster, Los Angeles, CA and Joanne Newman, Northbrook, IL; nieces and nephews; 9 step grandchildren; and 5 step great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at 10 AM on Wednesday, January 3 at Old Mission United Methodist Church, Shawnee Mission Parkway and Mission Road, Fairway, Kansas 66205. A Memorial Service will begin at 11 AM at the church with a luncheon to follow. Cremation. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the church Memorial Fund or the City Union Mission, 1100 East 11th St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

We wish to thank Lester's doctors, nurses and devoted caretakers – Barbara Davis, Maeretha May, Vidalia Finnell, Johnny Lister, Jamie Kolman and Vincent Ramey - who have been so compassionate throughout his illness. Lester was a wonderful husband, father, brother, son, uncle, friend and advisor to his family. He was a gentleman through and through, considerate, respectful, thoughtful, understanding, appreciative, classy, successful, caring and loving. We love you.Arrangements, Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Olathe Chapel.
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