Duane Dell Eastburn, avid birder, family man, and accomplished world traveler died on Friday, May 23, 2014 at the Champaign County Nursing Home.

Duane was born on February 12, 1932 in Manhattan, NY to two vaudevillians. From them he received a beautiful tenor voice and a love of music ranging from bluegrass and folk music, to Roger Miller, Herb Alpert, Anne Murray, and obscure old cowboy songs. One of his greatest pleasures was listening and singing along with his four children, who were the next generation of music lovers. He spent several years on a farm after his family moved to Iowa, and then it was off to Southern California, where his father got a job at McDonell-Douglas. He lived in the beautiful little town of Seal Beach and attended Huntington Beach High School, where he met the girl who would be his wife, Marlene "Kay" Kraft. Duane augmented his time at Long Beach State University, majoring in biology, as a very sought after gardener. He had more than a green thumb - he had green hands; and word-of-mouth praises kept him more than busy until he settled in to teach biology at Westminster High School, in Westminster, CA.

Duane also started the Blue Dolphin Swim School, in Midway City, CA. He had a gift for teaching little kids to swim and for persuading big kids to join the swim team and win lots of blue ribbons. Of course, as per swimming tradition, after every win he was pushed into the pool by the whole team, which, surprisingly, he never seemed to mind. Together Duane and Kay had four children, Debbie Robinson of La Habra, CA, Jan Buhrmann of Jacksonville, IL, Darin Eastburn of Urbana, IL, and Johnna Shapiro of Streamwood, IL. He taught them to sing, to camp, to respect nature, and to make a mean taco. Duane and Kay divorced in 1975, and Duane spent a few lonely years until he met Barbara Murphy, who happened to be Westminster High School's librarian. After several years of red hot courtship, they married at the Unitarian Church of Long Beach, in Long Beach, CA, on June 14, 1987.

Duane and "Barb" as everyone who loved her called her, were soul mates in every sense of the word. They discovered a mutual love of birding and took trips all over the U.S. to see new birds in different habitats. Not content with their native country, Duane and Barb traveled all over the world, from London and Paris, to Mexico and the Bahamas. Their favorite place, though, was Australia, especially Perth, where they made friends and enjoyed the sun. He and Barbara finally settled down in the mountains of eastern Arizona where they spent many happy years and hosted children and grandchildren, passing on their love of nature and wildlife. In 2007 they moved to Urbana, IL to be nearer to family. Duane loved the mountains, the smell of fir trees, and the Denver Broncos. He excelled at woodworking, gardening, and picking just the right Christmas tree (which spoiled his children for life.) He lived for walks in the woods, and cold, sweet German wines. Most of all, he loved his wife Barb, who loved him right back until September of 2013, when she died in his arms.

He hated voicemail, bad novels, and anyone who disrespected nature.

He leaves behind his sister, Damaris Moore of Boca Raton, Florida, five children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, all of whom will no doubt have lovely singing voices thanks to him.

His family wishes to thank the personnel of the Champaign County Nursing Home and of Harbor Light Hospice for their compassionate care of both Duane and Barb.

In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to the Champaign County Audubon Society. Condolences may be made at renner-wikoffchapel.com.