Duane Mathisen

Duane Mathisen, 80, of Morehead City, North Carolina, died on December 14, 2018, at Carteret Health Care.

He was born on September 26, 1938 in Fort Peck, Montana to the late Olaf and Mary Mathisen.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Mathisen. He is survived by two children, Karen Mathisen of Sioux City, Iowa; and Scott Mathisen of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

Duane graduated from Lake Andes High School in Lake Andes, South Dakota, then went on to attend the University of South Dakota, where he studied Biology. He was later accepted to the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, eventually earning the title Doctor of Optometry.

While working at a nearby hospital, he met his future wife Patricia, who was working as a nurse. They married August 5, 1962 and had two children, Karen and Scott.

After a stint in Chicago, he was hired as an Optometrist by Dr. Tom Willcockson (the business later became Willcockson Eye Associates) in 1968. The family relocated to Yankton, South Dakota, where the kids grew up and Dr. Mathisen worked with the practice for 28 years until his retirement.

While living in Yankton, Duane took a strong interest in long-distance cycling, which was still a bit of a novelty at the time. He was active with a local bicycling club in Vermillion and enjoyed doing 100-mile “century” rides in his spare time.

Later, he later started running and went on to complete more than 50 marathons. His favorites were Minneapolis, Chicago, and the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington, D.C.

It was his dream to run the Boston Marathon, and with the training assistance of friend John Notheis, Sr., he qualified and ran Boston in 1993, checking off another item on his athletic bucket list.

Always looking for another physical challenge, Duane later completed the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii—which consists of a 1.2-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride, and a marathon to top it off. Not only did he accomplish his goal, he did it a second time two years later.

Duane and Patricia retired to the Atlantic Beach, North Carolina in 1996. Never an idle man, he took a position at Carteret Community College teaching Bartending and ServSafe courses, and later taught Anatomy and Physiology.

Duane was a devoted husband and father who earned everything he had through the same hard work and perseverance he demonstrated in his studies and athletic pursuits.

He lived life on his own terms and went out the same way: he insisted on maintaining his independence and living in his own home during his final years. His son Scott visited him twice daily for the last two years of his life, and Karen was by his side during his final hours.

He will be remembered fondly and missed by all who knew him.

Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory in Morehead City, NC.