Longtime District 2 Fire Chief dies
Published: Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 8:40 AM By Kathy Fuller, The Hillsboro Argus

Longtime Washington County Fire District 2 Chief Richard “Dick” Rodney Duyck died of a heart attack Tuesday, Oct. 18, while hiking at Cape Lookout State Park near Tillamook. He was 74. Duyck was born at his grandmother’s home in Yoncalla on Aug. 30, 1937, the eldest of three children born to Clarence and Lucy (LeCluyce) Duyck. Raised in North Plains, he graduated from Hillsboro Union High School in 1955 and went to work at his father’s business, Duyck’s Garage in North Plains, where he learned his first trade as a mechanic. He met his future wife, Marlene Schmidt, at a wedding dance in Verboort. The two were married on Aug. 12, 1961, at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Hillsboro. Following their marriage, they lived in Roy, North Plains, and in 1971 moved to their present home in Hillsboro. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August at the Oregon Coast. Duyck was dedicated to fire service and served in many capacities with Washington County Fire District 2. He was a firefighter at the North Plains station for 17 years. He also repaired engines, pumps and transmissions on the fire equipment, saving the fire district “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Robert “Butch” Kindal, who worked alongside Duyck as a volunteer firefighter for many years. Duyck served as chief from 1970 until his retirement in 1995, giving a total of 41 years of service. During his career he also served on the board of directors and as president of the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, and served on the executive board of the Western Fire Chiefs Association. “He was a real leader,” said Kindel, who has been a Fire District 2 board member since 1998. When Duyck started as chief it was an all-volunteer department with about 60 volunteers between the North Plains and Midway stations. “In order to make that work you need to be a good leader. He had a good rapport with all the volunteers,” Kindal said. A lifelong Catholic, Duyck was serving as Parish Manager at St. Edward Catholic Church at the time of his death. He enjoyed the outdoors and traveling with his wife throughout the U.S. in their RV. He had recently taken up photography. A rosary and funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Edward Catholic Church, 10990 NW 313th Ave., in North Plains. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Susie Meeuwsen. Survivors include his wife, Marlene; four children and their spouses, Melinda and Kevin Sahli, Norma and Scott Wolf, Mike and Ann Duyck, and Shelly and Chris Gage; a brother, Bill Duyck; and six grandchildren. His son Mike is the current chief at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. “It runs in the family,” Kindel said. “He was a great man I’m glad to have served under him.”

Sept. 19th, 2009 - DISTRICT #2 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER LAID TO REST

Lt. Raymond Plekan was carried to his final call at the Midway Fire Station this morning accompanied by a processional of equipment and emergency responders. Crews and equipment from Washington County Fire District #2, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Clackamas Fire, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, Cornelius Fire Department, Banks Fire Department, Yamhill Fire, Gaston Rural Fire Protection, Dundee Fire, Elsie Fire Protection District, Washington County Sheriff and Honor Guard Members from various agencies throughout Oregon were present to pay their respects.