.png)
Carlos C.E. Duncan, 80, of Galesburg, died at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2022, at home.
He was born August 14, 1941, in Galesburg, the son of Howard A. and Louise Marie (Davis) Duncan Sr. He married Fernandina “Nancy” Van Woude in 1963, in Utrecht, Holland. He later married Juanita Marie Ward-Coleman on December 26, 1993, in Little Rock, Arkansas. She preceded him in death on December 15, 2007.
He is survived by a son, Marc (Willemijn) Duncan of Holland; grandchildren, Mayra, Jayden, and Nona; fiancé, Joyce Taylor of Galesburg; stepchildren, William Coleman and Stephanie Coleman; a sister, Marjorie Morris of Galesburg; and bonus children, George Carter of Galesburg, Kelvin Medley of Peoria, and Alayna Brown of Galesburg. In addition to his wife, Juanita, he was preceded in death by his parents; son, Carlos E. Duncan II; a brother, Howard “Sonny” Duncan; and a sister, Mary Louise Harris.
After graduating from Galesburg High School in 1959, Carlos went on to serve in the United States Air Force for 29 years. He served during the Vietnam War. He was the recipient of numerous ribbons, medals, and awards. After his retirement from the Air Force, Carlos returned to Galesburg, where he was coordinator of the GED Program at Carl Sandburg College and the Literacy Program in District 205. Carlos was also the program director of the Galesburg Youth Athletic Club. He was instrumental in developing Rock Steady, an exercise program for those living with Parkinson’s Disease. As a boxer, Carlos served as the chairman of the Illinois Boxing Coaching Committee and vice-chairman of the Olympic Boxing Program.
Carlos was a member of the Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church. He volunteered with numerous organizations over the years, including the Knox County United Way and the Teen Court Program.
Cremation will be accorded. Visitation will be 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, August 13, 2022, at First Baptist Church. Memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Toby Carlos officiating. Family has requested that facemasks be worn by all those in attendance. Private family burial with Military Honors will be in East Linwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Galesburg Youth Athletic Club. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services of Galesburg is honored to serve the family. Online condolences may be made on the funeral home’s website at www.h-p-w.com.
Ruth Ann Burke (Steele)
Thank you for the lovely tribute you wrote honoring the life and passing of Duncan. I missed knowing Duncan in our class of 1959. In fact I find there are
many I would have liked to have known. With our everchanging world perhaps we'll have a reunion in the heaven's one day. .......Ruthann Steele
Jennefer Wetherford (Eldert)
Wonderful!! words!!
Ann Black (Larson)
Thank you for posting the great tribute to Carlos Duncan. Those of us who left Galesburg right after high school, have not had an opportunity to keep up with classmates. Carlos, clearly, was a fine man. Ann Larson
Philip J Stewart
Thank you Matthew Wheaton for bringing Carlos Duncan to us in such a beautiful way. He was such a remarkable person.
Adale Lauver Finch (Tessman)
Thank you for a beautiful tribute to Carlos. We've lost some amazing classmates with wonderful stories.Dale Grupe
GALESBURG — "Mr. D" has passed away.
That's the moniker Galesburg-area youth bestowed upon Carlos Duncan, and the license plates on his car portrayed that.
For over 50 years, Duncan taught the fine art of boxing via the Galesburg Youth Athletic Club.
Duncan died Saturday at the age of 80. Duncan's words resonated with individuals of all ages and races. It didn't matter what their background or upbringing was. The words Duncan uttered applied to life, as well as boxing.
Duncan, a 1959 Galesburg High School grad, was involved with boxing since the age of 7, and the USA Boxing certified coach preached what he learned from his grandparents, his parents and a long career in the United States Air Force.
The former Golden Gloves winner spent 29 years serving his country, and for 19 of them Duncan was stationed in Holland. While there, he learned to speak Dutch, and he honed his skills as a boxer.
Duncan battled cancer twice in his life. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008 and given three to five years to live, but that didn't stop Duncan from doing what he loved to do.
Duncan was spry until the end, and he still hit a bag every once in a while. He loved helping people, and Duncan did so with a positive attitude. Whenever one saw him, Duncan would flash a grin from ear-to-ear.
When he had to do so, Duncan would lay down the law, if you will. However, those who ever stepped foot inside the GYAC — located on the fourth floor inside the Weinberg Arcade — knew Duncan was about business. He wanted to provide a healthy environment for all.
The GYAC was started in 1946 by Duncan’s father, Howard “Andy” Duncan and his brother, Sonny Duncan – who went on to serve with the Galesburg Police Department for 21 years. Carlos took over as the GYAC's leader in the early 1990s after his retirement from the Air Force.
Per its website, the GYAC has four goals: To teach the fundamentals of Olympic-style boxing; To provide an athletic diversion to drug use, gangs, and violence; Focus on enhancing self-esteem, goal-setting, discipline, respect for others, and responsibilities for ones own actions; and how to handle life triumphs and challenges outside of the boxing ring.
Carlos Duncan's life was about ensuring others knew someone cared about them. He noticed the differences people have including skin tone, but Duncan, a Black man, never focused on what color someone was. He displayed compassion and kindness, and all are welcome inside the GYAC. Duncan cared about the type of person one was.
Before my time at The Register-Mail, I was employed at Carl Sandburg College, and that's where I first met Carlos. He served as an outreach worker through Sandburg's literacy coalition. In other words, Duncan helped people learn to read and write. He also assisted those whose first language isn't English. It was a post he was passionate about just like his role with the GYAC.
Duncan was old school, and when he wanted to disclose information about an upcoming GYAC event he would pick up the landline — or in his later years his cell — and give you a ring or he'd hand deliver the information.
Duncan's last calls to me were in early April, and we ended up playing phone tag then. I never got to connect with him. The last time I did was in mid-June 2020 when we spoke about his eagerness to teach again, as the GYAC had been shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
I'll never forget that conversation we had that day socially distanced and masked outside 140 South Prairie Street, the former home of The R-M. At the time, he said he dishes "meaningful information to people that they can relate with." Carlos certainly did that.
And I'll never forget the wisdom he gave to yours truly a time or two. I'll also recall how he felt about the state of the world during our last conversation.
"We miss humor," Duncan said. "Everybody is too damn serious."
At the moment, it's hard to smile knowing such a great man is no longer around.
Duncan will certainly be missed, and he touched countless lives in his lifetime.
Thank you Carlos for all you did to aide the Galesburg community.
I certainly will never forget you.
Janet Terpening (Drummond)
Dale, this is such a wonderful tribute to Carlos Thank you for sharing.