Duane T. Kuhns, 65, of Middlesex Township, Valencia, died peacefully Sunday morning at Valencia Woods Nursing Center with his family by his side after a yearlong courageous battle with cancer.

Born Aug. 4, 1943, in Butler, he was the beloved son of the late George and Ruth Forsythe Kuhns.

He was a millwright for Pullman-Standard in Butler.

He attended Holy Sepulcher Roman Catholic Church in Glade Mills.

Duane was an avid gardener.

He was the loving husband of 44 years of Nancy Weible Kuhns, whom he married Dec. 12, 1964. He also was the beloved father of Barbie Clagett and her husband, Sean, of Mars, Candace Mathews and her husband, Phil, of Valencia, and Kenny Kuhns of Butler; proud grandfather of Griffin and Abby Clagett, and Alyssa and Ethan Mathews. Also surviving are five brothers, Al Kuhns (Juanita) of Franklin, Richard Kuhns (Marge Rochon) of Butler, Jack Kuhns (Alice) of Butler, George Kuhns in Colorado, Terry Kuhns (Cindy) of West Sunbury; six sisters, Bernice Bogan of Butler, Katherine Schuller (Dan) of Butler, Luanne Sacco (Mike DeAngello) of Butler, Donna Stoops (Randy) of Clintonville, Nancy Kuhns (Hugh McCormick) of Butler, and Lisa Kuhns of Butler; and also many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the staff at Valencia Woods Nursing Center for their kind and compassionate care.

<B>KUHNS</B> — Friends of Duane T. Kuhns, who died Sunday March 8, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the<B> McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home</B>, 238 Crowe Ave., Mars.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Holy Sepulcher Roman Catholic Church, Route 8, Glade Mills. The Rev. Albert Semler, pastor, will officiate.Burial will be in Butler County Memorial Park, Butler.The family requests that you honor his love of gardening and plant something as a remembrance of him or make a donation to the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund. Memorials may be made to St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, 5850 Meridian Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044.Directions and online condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.