Duane Eldon Buhler

Duane Eldon Buhler, passed away on June 1st, 2022, in his home surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Duane was born on June 15, 1930, near Trenton Nebraska, to Mabel and Andrew Buhler. He was the third born to a family of 5 children. During the Dust Bowl, at age 5, the family moved to Powell WY then on to Kelso WA to be near family. He was raised in the woods on Mount Brynion. At age 11 he was preceded in death by his father which caused great financial hardship for his family. Shortly after his father’s death Duane gave his heart and life to Jesus at a revival meeting. He found Christ to be so real he was speechless for several hours afterward, as though overwhelmed by the awesome presence of a loving God.  His dad’s brother, Uncle Charlie was a mountain man from Montana and came to the family’s rescue. While living in a tent, using his axe he built a home for them on Mount Brynion. Uncle Charlie taught them many survival skills. Duane and his brother, Dick did many odd jobs in those days, from cutting firewood to butchering rabbits to sell to the local Safeway stores to support the family. Duane graduated from Kelso High School in 1948. In 1947 he was selected to attend the National FFA Convention in Kansas City, MO. He won a scholarship to Washington State and a purebred Hereford heifer. 

In the summer of 1945, he worked on a firefighting crew for the Forest Service. He worked his way up to foreman at the age of 19 to become the youngest Forest Service foreman in the state of Washington in 1949. While working as a foreman he planned to go into ranching. He received a letter from his mother asking if he had ever thought about going to Bible School. With a stirring in his heart, he sought God for direction under a large fir tree where he dedicated his life completely to God and accepted the call to ministry, leaving behind the scholarship and dreams of ranching. That fall he attended Northwest Bible Institute in Seattle, WA. By the grace of God, he survived a near fatal pedestrian car accident his sophomore year, suffered a brain concussion and serious leg injuries. He was unable to walk for six painful weeks. While recovering at the family ranch God inspired him to trust Him. By faith with slow recovery, he returned to Northwest Bible Institute and graduated in 1952 with a BA in Theology. Immediately after graduation he accepted the pastorate at the Assembly of God church in New Meadows ID.

While at Northwest Bible Institute he met Loveta Shumway and they were married on Aug 2nd, 1952.  They later pastored Cambridge Assembly, while alternately pastoring a church at the Brownlee Dam construction site. In 1961, they accepted the pastorate at Calvary Assembly of God in Nampa ID. In 1976 they broke ground for a new church building at its present-day location and renamed the church Christian Faith Center emphasizing the faith it took to accomplish God’s vision for what seemed impossible in the natural. Duane served as Consulting Pastor at Christian Faith Center until his passing.

Duane was a bi-vocational minister, teaching public school and coaching various sports with winning records. He also pursued post graduate education and marriage and family counseling credentials, along with his passion for mentoring others, he loved learning, taking courses and furthering his education and knowledge till the day he flew to Jesus.  Many of his joys and passions were golf, basketball, camping, growing tomatoes and he was a great fast softball pitcher for many years. His greatest love and passion was being in the mountains and horse packing in the Sawtooth Wilderness with his children and family friends.

Throughout his ministry years Duane served as Youth Camp Director, Book of Hope Representative, District Supt for the Southern Idaho Ministry Network and taught in overseas Assembly of God Bible Schools. His ministry ventures included the One Way Youth Choir “Island Invasion” to churches, coffee shops and they did street ministry on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. 

Duane is survived by his sister, Lila Buhler; his sweetheart of 70 years, Loveta Buhler and five loving children; daughter Loveta & Mark Veristain, daughter Alecia & Mike Kinney, son Nick & Janice Buhler, daughter Julean & Pat Morris and daughter Juanita & Eric Blevins with 15 adoring grandchildren; Loveta & Dowain Geesey, Michelle & Josh Prim, Marcos Veristain, Randy & Jaime Kinney, Brian Oberson, Vanessa & Josiah Thalhofer, Ashley & Josh Lovern, Jennifer Jansen, David & Stephanie Jansen, Nikki & Alex Thompson, Missy & Austin Gonzalez, Sam & Allision Blevins, Ben & Chelsie Blevins and Sarah & Tony  Tuttoilmondo and 22 great grandchildren; Dowain Paul, Loveta Michelle, Kendra, and Alanna Geesey, Jackson and Landon Prim, Olivia and Lily Veristain, Ryan, Jaryd and Brodie Kinney, Mordred, Ash and Neve Oberson, Zephan and Daylan Thalhofer; Emerson Lovern, Daphne Jansen, Louella Thompson, Lyla, Autumn and Emery Blevins.

In heaven Duane joins his son, Lyle Buhler, 2 granddaughters; Heather Veristain and Rebekah Oberson, and 2 great grandsons; Micah Crary, Emmett Lovern and many other family members.

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