Duane Howe

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, Duane Howe left this earth to take up residence in Heaven with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you knew Duane, you also knew he shared his love for Jesus to almost everyone he met. What a welcoming there must have been that evening. You see, Duane and Nadine spent 48 years in Brazil telling others about Heaven and Jesus who gave His life for us all so that we could experience true forgiveness, total acceptance, and unconditional love here on earth as well as everlasting life in Heaven. Duane never retired from telling others about His beloved Savior. Therefore, Duane’s welcoming committee must have included Jesus, His Savior, as well as hundreds that are in Heaven because Duane cared enough to share Jesus to a hurting world. 

Duane was born May 6, 1939 in Gig Harbor, Washington to Glen and Rebecca Howe. He had one older sister, Judy Edmond. Duane and Nadine had flown to Florida two weeks ago to visit Judy and Jim. They had a wonderful trip and visit with them as well as many missionary friends they had worked with in Brazil. God had it all worked out.

Duane attended Prairie High School for 9th and 10th grade, then graduated from Peninsula High two years later. After that he returned to Alberta, Canada for 4 years of Bible School, graduating in 1961. Nadine graduated from Buhl High School that same year. Duane met Nadine at church, fell in love with her and they were married March 10, 1962. Soon after they moved to Jersey Shore, PA to start missionary training. They completed language study in Waukesha, Wisc. In October of 1965 they moved to Manaus, Brazil and later to the interior town of Eirunepe until moving into the Culina village. Most of their work was with the Culina people. The Culinas affectionately called him “Douemi”. For 3 years they served as dorm parents for high schoolers at their mission school before moving to Cruzeiro do Sul where they spent their last 19 years serving other missionaries. Duane, Nadine and family served with New Tribes Mission (now Ethnos360).

Duane is survived by his wife Nadine Bennett Howe, 6 children Bethany Ann (who will be living with Nadine where she will be taking over the controls of the living room TV), Kerry Thelen (Roger), Julia Veal (Warren), Jeffrey (Adriana), Bradley (Rebecca) Kristopher (Mary Jane), 20 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren with one on the way. Beth served 30 years with Ethnos, Kerry and Roger 14 years with Ethnos, Julie and Warren 26 years and counting with MAF, Jeff and Adriana 28 years and counting with Ethnos, Brad and Rebecca 19 years and counting with Ethnos/Pioneers, and Kris and Mary Jane 20 years and counting with Ethnos. Grandchildren are on the field with some still in training. To God be the glory. Great things He has done.

And it’s interesting to know that Duane, at 85, was going to drive himself to men’s Bible Study that Thursday night, but God’s ways are not our ways, and Duane might have had his Bible study that night with the men who wrote the Bible so many years ago. He must have thought he died and went to Heaven. We love you Douemi, and we are happy for you.

 A Celebration of Life will be held for Duane at 11:30 on October 9, 2024 at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Ave. East, Twin Falls, Idaho.