Duane W. Rimel of Clarkston, who wrote 266 novels over a 45-year period, died of chronic bronchitis Monday at Tri-State Health & Rehabilitation Center in Clarkston. He was 81.
He was born Feb. 21, 1915, in Asotin to Pearl Guy and Florance F. Wilsey Rimel. He graduated from Asotin High School in 1934.
Rimel married Ruth Adeline McClure Sept. 2, 1944, at Walla Walla. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1994. She died in 1995.
Rimel's first book was "Curse of Cain," a hardback novel published by David McKay & Co. in 1945. The majority of his works were paperback fiction novels, under various pen names. Some of his mystery novels were printed in Europe.
He started his writing career as a short story writer and sold his first story, a juvenile tale, to a boy's magazine in 1935 for $8.
He later switched to fantasy stories and had several published in amateur journals. In 1936, he tried to sell a story to "Weird Tales" magazine. The story was rejected, but he was recommended to a New York agent, who was able to sell the revised story to "Weird Tales" on the second try. Encouraged, Rimel went on to write numerous detective novels and continued to write until 1990.
He was listed in "Who's Who in the West" and "Contemporary Authors."
Rimel played piano for several area dance bands for some 40 years, worked in the Lewiston Morning Tribune circulation department for many years and tended bar at the Labor Temple and the Bollinger Hotel.
From 1952-54 he was commissioner for the Asotin County Housing Authority. He was president of Musicians Union, Lewiston Chapter AFL-CIO, from 1955-56. He was a 30-year member of the Lewiston Elks.
He is survived by two sons, Duane W. Rimel Jr. of Bainbridge Island, Wash., and James A. Rimel of St. Maries, Idaho; one daughter, Kay E. Henson of Meridian, Idaho; two sisters, Flo Clift of Asotin and Enid Foster of Enterprise, Ore.; and one brother, Gail Rimel of Moscow.
A son, William L. Rimel, a brother, Dwight Rimel, and a sister, Joy Wernecke, died previously.
Visitation will be from 8 to 10 a.m. today at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home at Lewiston. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Vineland Cemetery in Clarkston, with the Rev. Jim Higgins of Grace Lutheran Church at Lewiston officiating.
A luncheon will follow at Blossom Hill Villa, 1105 18th Ave., Clarkston.
The family suggests any memorials be sent to American Legion Baseball, in care of Clarence Ellis, secretary, 1911 15th Ave., Lewiston 83501.
