‘Duck Dynasty’ star Willie Robertson reveals late father Phil Robertson’s final message

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“Duck Dynasty” star Willie Robertson revealed the ultimate message that his late father shared with their household earlier than his demise.

In Might, Phil Robertson, well-known for founding the Duck Commander looking firm that turned the main focus of his A&E present, died on the age of 79.

The “Duck Dynasty” household patriarch had beforehand battled a number of well being circumstances, together with Alzheimer’s illness.

“Phil had been battling Alzheimer’s for some time,” Willie, 53, stated. “It was on our thoughts for positive, his situation. It’s a part of life.”

He continued, “Phil had such a robust religion. He instructed us earlier than, ‘Don't cry at my funeral. I do know the place I’m going.’”

“What a life he lived,” Willie added. “We heard that from 1000's of individuals, the individuals he impacted. Phil would have needed us to do precisely what we’re doing. No matter is a mirrored image of that religion, and our present is a mirrored image of our religion.”

“Not overtly. We’re not attempting to evangelise to individuals or convert individuals, however I believe you'll be able to see the fruit within the religion of our present and our household and the way it sticks collectively by way of good occasions and dangerous. That’s why we're on this earth. As we transfer on, I believe it’s a reminder to all of us the time will come. I hope I've a funeral like that the place individuals really feel that manner about me as properly.”

Phil, who was recognized with Alzheimer’s in December, handed away throughout the identical week that his household’s new present “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” premiered.

Although Phil didn't take part in “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” because of his well being points, the sequence’ first episode included a tribute to him.

Willie Robertson shared his late father Phil’s ultimate message to his household earlier than his demise. Instagram

The video begins with footage of Willie studying an introduction for the showcase his laptop computer to Phil, who was seen sitting in an armchair.

“So girls and gents, begin your engines. Just one will earn the bandana, so let the video games start. What do you assume, Phil?” Willie requested.

Phil replied by giving his son a giant thumbs-up.

The scene pale to black as a photograph of Phil appeared alongside the in-memoriam tribute.

“Ah, that was superior!” Willie was heard saying in response to his father’s gesture within the background of the tribute.

Phil Robertson died on Might 25, 2025.

Willie’s spouse Korie, who joined him for the interview, instructed TV Insider that the timing of Phil’s demise was “slightly surreal.”

“It was actually particular to our household that we had that one little clip,” she stated. “When filming this time round, he was already within the throes of Alzheimer’s, so he wasn’t in a position to be a part of the present. We did movie that one little factor the place he gave Willie the thumbs up.”

“It was actually particular as a result of, for our household, it felt like, ‘OK, that is his alternative to cross on the torch to us,’” she continued. “It’s humorous to see the feedback [from fans] who're like, ‘The following era are yuppies. They aren’t passing issues on.’

Phil was well-known for founding the Duck Commander looking firm that turned the main focus of his A&E present. Artwork Streiber

“However we're passing on Phil’s legacy as a result of his legacy was first about religion,” she stated. “His complete motto was religion, household, geese, in that order. His first was religion. All our children live that out in actually stunning methods and household.”

“That’s what this present is about,” Korie added. “It’s about household, inner-generational household dwelling life collectively and what which may appear like. After which geese. We’re nonetheless working Duck Commander, the enterprise he began from the duck name he invented years and years in the past. That has been actually particular to hold that legacy on now after his passing.”

Phil based Duck Commander in 1972. The “Duck Dynasty” tv present premiered 40 years later, in 2012, earlier than it led to 2017.

The truth tv star died throughout the identical week that his household’s new present, “Duck Dynasty: The Revival,” premiered. Jason Kempin

Throughout a current interview with Fox Information Digital, Willie and Korie defined how they had been coping after shedding Phil and the way they had been touched by the outpouring of help that they acquired from followers.

“I believe it’s a mix of some disappointment, simply we miss him, but additionally pleasure and happiness from what he believed and the place he was going and all of the issues he was in a position to accomplish in his life,” Willie stated. “And so many individuals that he helped and we had been reminded of that at his passing. And simply so many individuals simply flooded us with messages of how he had helped change their life, both instantly or not directly by way of the present or by way of the podcast or books he has written.”

President Donald Trump laughs with Willie Robertson and Phil Robertson, the household patriarch, at a marketing campaign rally in Monroe, La., Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019. AP

Whereas Willie shared that it was “tragic” watching his father endure throughout his battle with Alzheimer’s, he stated it helped put together the household for his passing.

“You’re prepared,” he stated. “We knew, he’s prepared to maneuver on and so yeah, it’s form of blended. However there was actually extra pleasure.”

“Phil pre-warned us,” he added.

“We instructed lots of humorous tales and simply introduced again all these enjoyable recollections,” Korie chimed in. “It’s slightly bit the Robertson manner. Even within the exhausting issues, we snort quite a bit by way of it.”

Phil’s spouse, Kay, beforehand spoke out about how the couple struggled in the course of the early years of their marriage. Phil Robertson / Fb

Korie stated they hoped future generations can be impressed by Phil’s dedication to his religion and the way it reworked his life.

“Simply in passing down that legacy — one of many issues that we’ve simply been reminded of over and over is simply this man who lived down on the river, didn’t personal a mobile phone or a pc — what God did together with his life. As a result of he was simply really passionately offered out for Jesus,” she stated.

Korie continued, “And so I believe for all of us, it’s introduced much more of a boldness to our religion to say like, ‘Hey, we observe Jesus, and that’s who we're.’ And if you wish to know extra about it, come discuss to us as a result of it’s introduced a full life.”

“And a modified life,” Willie added. “There would by no means have been a ‘Duck Dynasty’ present. There wouldn’t have been firm had his life not modified. This household wouldn't have stayed collectively.”

Phil’s spouse Kay, 77, has beforehand spoken out about how the couple confronted marital struggles within the early years of their union because of Phil’s alcoholism and infidelity earlier than he dedicated to his religion.

The pair, who married in 1966, had 4 sons together with Willie, Alan, 59, Jase, 55 and Jep, 47, in addition to many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

“It’s all accountable to his religion and his life change, of he and mother collectively to maintain this household collectively,” he stated. “And now we’re seeing a lot fruit of that.”