” Duck Dynasty ” star Willie Robertson shared the final words his late father told him beforehis death.
In May, Phil Robertson, well-known for establishing the Duck Commander hunting company that was central to his A&E series, passed away at the age of 79. The head of the “Duck Dynasty” family had previously faced various health issues, including Alzheimer’s disease.
During an interview with TV Insider, Willie, 53, remembered Phil’s last message to his family.
Phil had been dealing with Alzheimer’s for some time,” Willie said. “It was definitely on our minds, his illness. It’s just part of life.
He continued, “Phil had such a strong faithHe mentioned earlier, ‘Don’t cry at my funeral. I know where I’m going.’
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What a life he led,” Willie added. “We’ve heard this from thousands of people, those he influenced. Phil would have wanted us to do exactly what we’re doing. Anything that reflects that faith, and our show is a reflection of our belief.
Not obviously. We aren’t aiming to preach to people or change their beliefs, but I believe the impact of our show and our family’s faith can be seen, especially in how we remain united through both good and challenging times. That’s the purpose of our existence. As we continue forward, I think it serves as a reminder to all of us that the time will come. I hope I have a funeral where people feel the same about me.
Phil, who received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in December, passed away during the week his family’s new show premiered.“Duck Dynasty: The Revival” debuted. Although Phil was not involved in “Duck Dynasty: The Revival” because of his health challenges, the first episode of the series featured a tribute to him.
The video starts with Willie viewing an introduction for the show on his laptop, addressing Phil, who is seen relaxing in an armchair.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, get your engines ready. Only one person will win the bandana, so the competition is on. What’s your take, Phil?” Willie inquired.
Phil responded by giving his son a large thumbs up.
The scene turned to black as a picture of Phil was shown with the tribute in his memory.
“Ah, that was incredible!” Willie was heard saying in reaction to his father’s action in the background of the tribute.
Willie’s wife Korie, who was with him during the interview, shared with TV Insider that the timing of Phil’s passing felt “a bit strange.”
It was truly meaningful for our family to have that small clip,” she said. “When we were filming this time, he was already experiencing the effects of Alzheimer’s, so he couldn’t be involved in the show. We did capture that brief moment where he gave Willie a thumbs up.
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It was truly unique because, forour family, It felt as if, “OK, this is his chance to pass the baton to us,” she continued. “It’s amusing to see the comments [from fans] who say, ‘The next generation are yuppies. They aren’t passing anything on.'”
But we are carrying forward Phil’s legacy because his legacy began with faith,” she said. “His entire motto was faith, family, ducks, in that order. His top priority was faith. All of our children are embodying that in truly wonderful ways and family.
That’s the essence of this show,” Korie said. “It revolves around family, specifically multi-generational families living together and how that dynamic plays out. And then there are ducks. We’re still operating Duck Commander, the company he founded with the duck call he created many years ago. It’s been truly meaningful to continue that legacy following his passing.
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Phil established Duck Commander in 1972. The “Duck Dynasty” TV series debuted 40 years later, in 2012, and concluded in 2017.
In a recent conversation with Fox News Digital, Willie and Korie discussed how they are managing following Phil’s passing and how they were moved by the overwhelming support they received.from fans.
I believe it’s a mix of sadness, because we miss him, but also joy and happiness regarding what he believed in and where he was headed, along with all the achievements he made in his life,” Willie said. “And so many people he helped were reminded of that at his passing. A lot of people reached out to us with messages about how he influenced their lives, either directly or indirectly through the show, the podcast, or the books he wrote.
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Although Willie described it as “heartbreaking” to see his father endure the struggle with Alzheimer’s, he mentioned it helped the family get ready for his death.
You’re prepared,” he said. “We understood, he’s ready to move forward and so, yes, it’s somewhat conflicting. But there was actually more happiness.
“Phil gave us a heads-up,” he added.
We shared many amusing tales and revived all those joyful memories,” Korie added. “It’s somewhat the Robertson approach. Even during tough times, we tend to laugh a lot.
Korie expressed that they hope upcoming generations will be motivated by Phil’s commitment to his religion and the way it changed his life.
“Simply carrying on that legacy — one of the things we’ve been reminded of repeatedly is this man who lived by the river, without a cell phone or computer — what God accomplished through his life. Because he was genuinely and deeply devoted to Jesus,” she said.
Korie added, “So I believe it has given all of us even greater confidence in our faith, saying, ‘Hey, we follow Jesus, and that’s who we are.’ If you’d like to learn more, feel free to speak with us because it has led to a more complete life.”
And a transformed life,” Willie added. “There would have never been a ‘Duck Dynasty’ show. There wouldn’t have been a business if his life hadn’t changed. This family wouldn’t have remained together.
Phil’s wife Kay, 77,has previously expressed how the couple experienced relationship challenges during the initial years of their marriage because of Phil’s alcohol abuse and unfaithfulness before he dedicated himself to his religion.
The couple, who tied the knot in 1966, are parents to four sons: Willie, Alan, 59, Jase, 55, and Jep, 47, along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
It’s all due to his faith and the transformation in his life, along with his mom’s efforts to maintain this family,” he said. “And now we’re witnessing a lot of positive results from that.
Original article source: Star of ‘Duck Dynasty’ Willie Robertson recounts the last words of his late father, Phil Robertson
