Obituary of Duane A. Olver

Duane A. ("Mike") Olver, 85, of Beach Lake passed peacefully at home on Dec. 12. Born on February 25, 1929 in Carbondale, PA the son of Aldace and Etta Olver, he grew up on the family dairy farm in Beach Lake. He attended Laurella, a one-room grammar school in Honesdale. He graduated from the three-year program at Berlin High School in Beach Lake in 1945 before finishing his education at Wayne Commercial School in 1946. For many years, Mike was a truck driver for W. J. Reining & Sons and then the G.L.F. Farm Store, where he was the first to drive a lime spreader. He enjoyed telling his lime-spreading stories during Sunday drives along the roads of rural Wayne County. Many knew Mike from his many years "peddling" Dairylea milk to local homes and businesses in his red and white truck. He was the owner/chef of the Maple City Restaurant in Honesdale for 25 years where he was famous for his delicious soups and pies. He and his family also ran Olver's Bed and Breakfast for 17 years. Upon "retiring," he drove local elderly residents for Area Aging for twelve years. Mike was an avid outdoorsman and he loved hunting, fishing, and walking or cross-country skiing through the woods. Mike was a fixture in the Honesdale community; he participated in softball and bowling leagues, coached Little League and participated on the Church Council. He also loved rough-housing with his kids and grandkids, taking naps on the floor, dancing with his wife, and singing country ballads. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Vernon, Thomas, Leon, Jerry, Arthur and Paul Olver. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Olver nee Doherty; his children, Patricia Olver, Richard Olver, Nancy Rorem and husband Mark, Deborah Miller and husband Daniel, Joseph Burkavage, Molly Olver, Timothy Olver and wife Becky, Jessica MacAuley and husband Brian; grandchildren, Erik Golant, Daryl Miller and daughter Renee', Deanna Alchier and husband Will, Amanda and Ben Rorem, Alexis and Joshua Burkavage, and Caleb Olver; and sisters Esther Racht and Florence Utegg. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 in S.t John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Honesdale with REv. Kenneth Buckwalter officiating. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery Honesdale. Friend may visit at the Arthur A. Bryant Funeral Home , 1228 Main Street, Honesdale on Tuesday from 4:00 - 7:00 pm and at the church on Wednesday from 10:30 - 11:00 a.m The family would like to sincerely thank Mike's many caretakers during his long illness.