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Robert Frederick Duckert of Janesville passed away on Saturday April 9, 2011 at Cedar Crest in Janesville after a long illness.Robert was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Richard F. Duckert and Geraldine (Pyburn) Duckert on March 16, 1918. He attended Madison East High School 1932-1936 and the University of Wisconsin 1936-1942, with majors in Speech and Educational Psychology. He married his wife of nearly 68 years, Joyce Emily Kleckner on April 20, 1943, at Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Robert served in World War II and was graduated from the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was retained as an instructor at the Infantry School. As 1st Lieutenant he joined the 2nd Infantry Division in Europe and commanded units in that division in France, Belgium and Germany during the Battle of the Bulge. Robert received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. During the Korean War, he commanded the 291st Engineer Heavy Equipment Company and took that Company to Germany to assist in rebuilding efforts under the Marshall Plan. Following World War II and the Korean War, Robert was employed by the Education and Training Division of the Veterans Administration as a training specialist in vocational rehabilitation of severely disabled veterans attending technical colleges and universities. He joined HUFCOR in Janesville in 1957 where he became Director of Educational Services, training domestic, English and French distributors. Following his retirement from HUFCOR he joined Burdick Corporation in Milton as Director of Training. For many years, Bob was an active volunteer and one of the first “Grumpies” at Rotary Gardens in Janesville. He was a former member of the Service Corps of Retired Executives and a member of Rock Prairie United Presbyterian Church. Bob is survived by his wife Joyce, sons William (Jane) Duckert of Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin and Thomas (Mary) Duckert of Germantown, Tennessee; 4 grandchildren, Elisabeth (Patrick) Wagener, Jon (Crystal) Duckert, Kate (Luke) Palmer and Sarah Duckert; 2 great grandchildren, Aidan James Duckert and Vanessa Jane Palmer and several nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents, step-father William Shipke, a sister Marguerite Thalacker, and a brother, Frank Duckert. The family will meet friends at 1:30 PM on Thursday, April 14, 2011, at Cedar Crest Chapel, 1702 South River Road, Janesville followed by a memorial service at 2:00 PM with Pastors John Froiland and Jamie Swanson officiating. The Henke-Clarson Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Rock Prairie United Presbyterian Church or Cedar Crest.

Robert Frederick Duckert of Janesville passed away on Saturday April 9, 2011 at Cedar Crest in Janesville after a long illness.Robert was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Richard F. Duckert and Geraldine (Pyburn) Duckert on March 16, 1918. He attended Madison East High School 1932-1936 and the University of Wisconsin 1936-1942, with majors in Speech and Educational Psychology. He married his wife of nearly 68 years, Joyce Emily Kleckner on April 20, 1943, at Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Robert served in World War II and was graduated from the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was retained as an instructor at the Infantry School. As 1st Lieutenant he joined the 2nd Infantry Division in Europe and commanded units in that division in France, Belgium and Germany during the Battle of the Bulge. Robert received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. During the Korean War, he commanded the 291st Engineer Heavy Equipment Company and took that Company to Germany to assist in rebuilding efforts under the Marshall Plan. Following World War II and the Korean War, Robert was employed by the Education and Training Division of the Veterans Administration as a training specialist in vocational rehabilitation of severely disabled veterans attending technical colleges and universities. He joined HUFCOR in Janesville in 1957 where he became Director of Educational Services, training domestic, English and French distributors. Following his retirement from HUFCOR he joined Burdick Corporation in Milton as Director of Training. For many years, Bob was an active volunteer and one of the first “Grumpies” at Rotary Gardens in Janesville. He was a former member of the Service Corps of Retired Executives and a member of Rock Prairie United Presbyterian Church. Bob is survived by his wife Joyce, sons William (Jane) Duckert of Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin and Thomas (Mary) Duckert of Germantown, Tennessee; 4 grandchildren, Elisabeth (Patrick) Wagener, Jon (Crystal) Duckert, Kate (Luke) Palmer and Sarah Duckert; 2 great grandchildren, Aidan James Duckert and Vanessa Jane Palmer and several nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents, step-father William Shipke, a sister Marguerite Thalacker, and a brother, Frank Duckert. The family will meet friends at 1:30 PM on Thursday, April 14, 2011, at Cedar Crest Chapel, 1702 South River Road, Janesville followed by a memorial service at 2:00 PM with Pastors John Froiland and Jamie Swanson officiating. The Henke-Clarson Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Rock Prairie United Presbyterian Church or Cedar Crest.