William Duchane

If it could be built, Bill DuChane was the man to build it. He was a master craftsman, and he built countless houses, offices and buildings over the years, building a successful business in the process. Bill was even better at building friendships, and the bonds with the people around him. More than anything, Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, whose family was the foundation he formed his life around. Bills story began on a warm fall day in 1926, as the leaves began to change in Muskegon, Michigan. Those were good days in this country, times of peace and prosperity, during the heyday of the Roaring 20s and the Prohibition era. On September 16, 1926, a beautiful fall Thursday, William and Marie (Hilgeman) DuChane celebrated the birth of their only child, a son they named William Raymond DuChane, Jr. The family lived in the Bluffton neighborhood of Muskegon, an incredible area between Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan, and a neighborhood known for being an actors colony. The neighborhood was once home to famous silent film star Buster Keaton. It was a wonderful place for Bill to grow up, and he loved spending his days playing in the sand dunes or sailing on Muskegon Lake. When he was 12 years old, Bills dad taught him how to take apart an engine and put it back together again, opening a whole new world. Bill became fascinated with fixing and building things, and began helping his dad with the family boat sales and storage business. In the late 1930s and early 40s, a newfangled contraption called television stormed the country, and they expanded into a successfull TV and appliance business. Bill had a natural aptitude for fixing things, but his gifts didnt end there. He was also a talented musician, and learned to play the trumpet and the coronet as a boy. He played in the school band at Bunker Junior High, and later at Muskegon High School, too. Bill was well-liked and very popular in high school, especially thanks to the Crosley two-seater roadster convertible his dad bought for him! That car made Bill quite popular around town, as one might imagine. Bill came of age during the terrible storm of World War II, and like so many of his peers, after he graduated from high school, he was drafted into the Army. During this time, Bills parents bought the Octagon Food Shop in Bluffton, which had the enviable location of being right next to the Muskegon Yacht Club. They had a soda fountain in the Shop, which was quite popular in those days. One day in 1945, a pretty young girl named Vannye Brown sat down at the soda counter. She was just 17, visiting her sister in Muskegon for the summer from her home in Arkansas, and Bills parents just knew their son would love her. So when he returned from basic training later that summer, they introduced them, and the sparks flew between Bill and the beautiful belle with the Southern accent. They kept in contact after Bill went back to the Army. Thanks to his musical talents, he was accepted into the Army Band, and stationed in Hawaii for two years, playing alongside many other talented Big Band musicians supporting the troops. He was chosen to play "Hail to the Chief" when President Truman visited the troops in Hawaii. The Chief himself stopped, patted Bill on the back and said "good job son". Words he never forgot. When his service ended, Bill returned home, and he and Vannye picked up where they left off. They continued dating, fell in love, and were married on July 6, 1949, in the Little Chapel in Bluffton. The newlyweds settled into a little home Bills dad owned there, before eventually building a home next door to Bills parents. It was a beautiful home on a hill, with a steep driveway that provided some challenges in the wintertime. It was there they started their family, celebrating the birth of their daughter Cynthia in 1951, with Suzette rounding out the happy family in 1957. Bill was a wonderful husband and father, and provided well for his family. He went to work in the construction business, first doing cement work, then home additions, and finally in general contracting, forming the DuChane Construction Company. With plenty of hard work, charisma and knowhow, Bill became very successful. Bill was far from all work and no play, however. The family did much together over the years, and enjoyed many great vacations together. Bill and his beloved Vannye were also very social, fun-loving people, and made many good friends over the years. They were longtime members of the Muskegon Elks, and were also 40-year active members of the Muskegon Country Club, where they loved to play golf, socialize and dance at the parties there. They played in the couples events, and Bill was on a Thursday night league for many years. Bill made many contacts on the course, and did construction work for many of his friends at the club. If his clients werent friends when he started a job for them, they were by the time he finished. Thats just the way Bill was, eminently likeable to all who knew him. In the early 1960s, Bill built the family a beautiful home in Beachwood, and after his father died at the age of 57, he built an addition to the home so his mother could live with them. Bill cared for his mom for more than 20 years. When his daughters grew up and started families of their own, Bill became an enormously proud granddad. He attended as many of the kids events as he could, and always enjoyed spending time with them. They were a very close family, and spent all the holidays together. Bill also helped Suzette with her home projects often, after she bribed him with a pork roast, of course! Bill was always quick to lend a helping hand, whether it was for his family or his friends, or simply those in need. Even after he retired, he never really retired, as he was always helping somebody with something, always there when he was needed. Two weeks before he had back surgery in the spring of 2008, he was helping a friend with a home project. After his surgery, Bill began having some complications, and it was discovered he had a problem with his lungs. His health quickly declined, and there wasnt anything that could be done for him. Sadly, Bill died on Saturday, July 12, 2008, surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 81. Bill was a wonderful man, who built a wonderful life, a life built on hard work, friendship, and above all, family. He was a proud veteran, successful businessman, and a friend to many. More than anything, Bill was a loving husband, father and grandfather, whose family was the foundation for all that he did. He will be so greatly missed. Bill is survived by his wife, Vannye; daughters, Cynthia & William Buck of Muskegon, Suzette & Blair Hotz of East Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Kyle & Jen Buck, Cameron Buck, Blair Hotz II; sister-in-law, Rose Ann & Ken Becker of Muskegon, several cousins, nieces and nephews. Services are scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2008, 2:00 PM at Muskegon Country Club. Interment at Lakeside Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.