A man well loved and respected by family and friends, Duke Wieden was surrounded by grace when he died peacefully Feb. 15, 2012. A second-generation native Oregonian and proud of it, Duke was born July 25, 1921, to Duane and Eleanor (Haskins) Wieden. He grew up in Northeast Portland and remained there most of his life.

After graduating from the University of Oregon in 1943, he attended the U.S. Navy’s Midshipmen’s School in Chicago, Ill. and served during World War II as a lieutenant and beachmaster in the South Pacific on the USS Latimer.

Before reporting for duty, Duke married his soulmate and high school sweetheart, Violet Irene Maxfield Wieden, whom he nicknamed “Tim.” Married almost 50 years, Duke and Tim had a wonderful life together until Tim’s death in 1992. In 1995, Duke married Carolyn Lineberger Browder, a North Carolina native. Together, their blended family included six adult children; 13 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Duke built his career in advertising, eventually becoming president of Gerber Advertising in Portland. After consulting with founders of a new Portland startup, Columbia Management Group (Columbia Funds), he served on their board. In 1971 he joined PGE, where he headed up advertising, PR and community relations. In 1987, he retired from PGE as an executive vice president.

Duke always said he had lived during the very best time on Earth. His proudest accomplishments included his work for Senator Mark Hatfield; he managed advertising for most of Mark Hatfield’s political campaigns. Having created his agency’s first radio spots, Duke also pioneered a new kind of advertising during the early years of television. In 1970, he was named “Ad Man of the Year.” In 1996, the American Advertising Museum in Portland dedicated a wall in his honor. A member of Toastmasters, Duke was one of Portland’s most requested speakers. He gladly served as mentor to many of his clients and colleagues in advertising. Duke was a former member of Westminster and Rose City Park Presbyterian Churches, serving in various leadership roles. He served on the boards of Emanuel Hospital and the Portland Police Bureau’s Sunshine Division. He was a member of the Aero Club and many other civic organizations.

Although he was proud of these achievements, his family was his crowning glory. Duke is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his beloved sister, Dorothy Jane Wieden; his children, Dan Wieden and fiancé, Priscilla Bernard, Ken Wieden and his wife, Julie, Sherrie Wieden and her husband, Mike White; his grandchildren, Tami (Wieden) and Peter Wiedensmith, Laura (Wieden) and Joe Blatner, Cassie Wieden, Bryan Wieden and his fiancé, Jessica Salcido, Courtney Wieden, Bailey Wieden; and his great-grandchildren, Ben, Ellie and Morgan Wiedensmith and Mason Blatner. He is also loved by his inherited children and grandchildren, Mary Wall McDonald, Stacy and Anne Wall, Lee Wall and Sophie Lee, Emily and Jack McDonald, Charlie and Thomas Wall, Nate and Cicely Bernard and their son, Sawyer, Bree Oswill and Matvey Rezanov and their son, Sevastiani, and Sean and Nicole Oswill.

All of us appreciate the love and support of Duke’s additional family- our caregiver and friend, David Blythe, and the caregivers, med aides, and staff at Regency Park Kingswood.

Celebration of Life

Sunday March 18, 2012 , 2:00pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Northeast Portland

A family graveside service was held Sunday, February 19, 2012, at Finley-Sunset Hills Memorial Park.

Facts Born: July 25, 1921
Place of Birth: Portland, OR USA
Death: February 15, 2012
Place of Death: Portland, OR USA
Occupation: Advertising

Memorial Donations Memorial donations can be made to:
University of Oregon Duke Wieden Scholarship Fund for Caldera Students, the OHSU Foundation (for research in Multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease), Caldera and Westminster Presbyterian Church