Ian Duncan

Ian Duncan of Franklin Park, Illinois, died February 1, 2021 surrounded by family.  Born in Glasgow, Scotland on January 16, 1948, Ian emigrated to the United States in 1952 through Ellis Island with his mother and two brothers where they joined his father, a baker, in Chicago.  Four-year-old Ian’s greatest disappointment when he arrived in America was that unlike the Western shows he had seen on T.V. and in movies, cowboys and Indians were not having showdowns in the streets and waiting for his help.

Ian grew up on the West Side of Chicago and graduated in 1965 from Austin High School where he excelled in athletics, participating in football, baseball, and track. While in school, he met his wife, Eileen (Renaghan), at a high school social and proposed in 1968.  Following high school, Ian declined an opportunity to play collegiate football, opting to stay close to his family and soon-to-be fiancé while pursuing an opportunity to launch a baseball career with the Cubs. Ian had a tryout at Wrigley Field in the spring of 1968, and was preparing to sign a contract with his hometown team (every kid’s dream!) but was instead called to serve his country.  He was drafted into the Army where he eventually served with the Military Police at USAG Stuttgart, Germany.  He returned in 1970 with numerous stories about his time with the Army baseball team and Oktoberfest adventures. Ian and Eileen were married October 2, 1971 and lived in Cicero, Illinois.  They soon welcomed their sons, Bryan (1972) and Jeff (1974) and moved to Franklin Park where he resided until present day.

Above all else, Ian was a family man. If he wasn’t at a baseball field or hockey rink helping his boys learn, compete and grow, he could be found alongside his father and brothers, watching the ponies circle the track. He was also an avid fisherman - each year he looked forward to his fishing trips to northern Wisconsin with the family and would spend weeks assembling his gear in anticipation.  And, as difficult as it was at times, Ian was a life-long Blackhawks and Cubs fan. His dedication was rewarded by being there in-person to witness World Series victories and Stanley Cup championships for both teams.  In Ian’s later years, there was nothing that could come between the special bond that he had with each of his five grandchildren. His life’s joy was spending precious time watching them grow up, devoting hours to figure skating competitions, swim meets, and yes, more hockey and baseball games, even joining the teams for out-of-state road trips.  Ian was so dedicated to participating in the activities of his grandchildren that he and Eileen became known as the “Super Fans” by team parents.

Ian is survived by his wife, Eileen; two sons, Bryan (Ronda) and Jeff (Heidi); his brother, Alan (Beth); and his five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Natalie, Grant, Jack, and Carter.  Ian was predeceased by his parents, David Sr. and Annie and his brother, David Jr. (Elaine).

A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 5th at 10:30 a.m. at Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home in Franklin Park, Illinois. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we regret that the attendance will be limited to family only, but a live stream of the service will be available at the Sax-Tiedemann website that morning.  In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations can be made to JDRF (https://www.jdrf.org/) and the American Heart Association (https://www.heart.org/).