Duane Howard Robbins

June 26, 1948 - September 8, 2026

Duane Howard Robbins lived 78 years. He was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, entrepreneur, computer expert, coach, dancer, runner, teacher, problem solver, and above all, a man whose faith was the center of his life. Duane was born to Wesley Fay Robbins and Carol McDougal Robbins. His mother, Carol, was born July 19, 1909, in Franklin, Nebraska. Duane was the youngest in his family, with older siblings including his brother Glen Robbins, followed by his sister Lila Quast. His parents and siblings were important parts of the family history that shaped the man he became.

A Man of Deep Faith

Duane's faith in Jesus Christ was not simply something he talked about. It was a fundamental part of who he was. He believed in Jesus Christ as his Savior and spent much of his life studying Scripture and learning more about his faith. His home reflected that devotion. There were Bibles, books, tapes, pictures, and videos throughout the house centered around Scripture and Christian teachings. Bible studies and faith based gatherings were held in his home, and anyone who spent time with Duane could expect that a conversation might eventually turn toward faith, the Bible, or what he was learning. His faith gave him a strong sense of purpose and a desire to share what he believed with others. He continued learning throughout his life, always curious and willing to explore another book, another idea, or another way of understanding the world.

A Mind That Was Always Working

After graduating from Columbia River High School in 1966, he attended Portland State University, earning a bachelor's degree in Computer Science. His career became a natural expression of the way his mind worked. He founded Duane Robbins Consulting, which later grew into AMISC LLC, Awesome Management Information Systems Consultants. Duane specialized in sales automation and customer relationship management, including the TeleMagic software system. He helped businesses customize software, connect CRM systems with accounting and other programs, communicate with programmers and suppliers, and find solutions that were both practical and cost effective. But what made Duane especially good at his work was not simply his technical knowledge. He had a gift for understanding what people were actually trying to accomplish and then explaining complicated technical problems in plain English. He could program software, build and repair computers, work on networks, test software thoroughly, and troubleshoot problems that left others scratching their heads. If something wasn't working, Duane wanted to know why, and he usually kept working at it until he figured it out.

Always Learning, Always Exploring

Duane's curiosity extended far beyond computers. He loved learning about health and experimented with a raw food diet during one period of his life. He drank carrot juice every day, and so much of it that his skin actually turned orange. It became one of those family stories that people could laugh about for years afterward. He loved books and learning and was always exploring new ideas. He played chess and other games with his children, although his children will tell you that he did not believe in letting them win. At the time, that may not always have seemed fair. But there was a lesson in it. Duane believed that losing was part of learning. Life would not always hand you a victory, and sometimes the best thing you could do was think harder, try again, and keep going. He coached soccer for one of his daughters for a season and spent time playing games and teaching through everyday experiences. He also liked to run, and he would often take one of his children along with him.Those runs were more than exercise. They were time together, one of those simple things that can become a treasured memory years later.

A Life Beyond Work

Duane was also involved in his community and found unexpected interests throughout his life. Beginning in the 1990s, he became involved in Israeli folk dancing in the Portland area. He danced with the Café Shalom Dancers and became involved in performances and community events. He helped coordinate dance groups, provided technical and sound support, and performed for residents at local senior communities. What began as an interest became a meaningful part of his life for many years. Duane also volunteered his technical skills, including helping rebuild computers and laptops for people who could use them. Whether he was helping someone solve a computer problem, supporting a performance, or sharing something he had learned, he had a natural inclination to be useful.

A Husband's Devotion

One of the quietest and most meaningful chapters of Duane's life came during his final years. In the last two years of his life, as his wife Angelica became less able to care for herself, Duane devoted himself to caring for her at home. It wasn't always easy. It required patience, sacrifice, and a great deal of love. Angelica wanted to remain at home, surrounded by what was familiar, and Duane honored that wish. He stayed beside her, cared for her, and made sure she was not alone. Duane and Angelica married in 1981 and shared more than four decades of marriage. Their life together included family, faith, challenges, interests, adventures, and countless memories. In those final years, their relationship became less about the activities and interests they had shared and more about simply being there for one another, day after day. Duane did not need recognition for what he did. He simply cared for the woman he loved.

His Greatest Legacy, His Family

Duane is survived by his beloved wife, Angelica Robbins; his children, Rodney Robbins, Rochelle Fahlman, Victoria Christopher, Wesley Robbins, and Elizabeth Robbins; his step son, Alan McNinch; 12 grandchildren; and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley Fay Robbins and Carol McDougal Robbins, and his older brother and sister Glenn Robbins and Lila Quast.

Duane’s legacy is not found only in the things he accomplished professionally. It is found in the stories his family will carry with them for generations. It is in the games he played without giving anyone an easy win, the running shoes and miles shared with a child, and the carrot juice that turned his skin orange. It is in the computers he built, the problems he solved, the books he read, and the endless questions he asked. It is in the conversations about faith and the lessons he taught without always realizing he was teaching them. It is in the way he cared for his wife when she needed him most.

And then there were his “HEAVEN” license plates, a reflection of both his faith and his sense of humor. Duane believed that because he was a citizen of Heaven, he didn’t need official state plates. It was one of those unforgettable things about him that made his family smile, and sometimes embarrassed them just a little. But perhaps no story could be more fitting now. After a lifetime of believing he was a citizen of Heaven, Duane is finally home. He is at peace with the Savior he believed in, loved, and spent his life seeking to understand more deeply.

His family will miss him deeply, but they will carry his stories, his lessons, his laughter, and his faith with them. And somewhere, we can imagine Duane smiling, knowing he finally has the only license plate he ever really needed.