Willie Robertson reveals father Phil Robertson’s last message earlier than demise

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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 Could, Phil Robertson, well-known for founding the Duck Commander searching 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 situations, together with Alzheimer's illness.

"Phil had been fighting Alzheimer’s for some time," Willie, 53, mentioned. "It was on our thoughts for positive, his situation. It’s a part of life."

Willie Robertson shared his late father Phil's last message to his household earlier than his demise. (Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal through Getty Photos)

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.’"

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"What a life he lived," Willie added. "We heard that from 1000's of individuals, the folks he impacted. Phil would have wished 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 folks or convert folks, however I believe you may see the fruit within the religion of our present and our household and the way it sticks collectively by way of good occasions and unhealthy. 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 folks really feel that approach about me as nicely."

Phil, who starred on "Duck Dynasty," died on Could 25 on the age of 79, months after revealing his declining well being. (AFP PHOTO/NICHOLAS KAMM (Picture credit score ought to learn NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP through Getty Photos)

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" on account of his well being points, the sequence' first episode included a tribute to him.

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 suppose, Phil?" Willie requested.

Phil replied by giving his son an enormous thumb's 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.

Pictured from left, Phil Robertson, Jase Robertson, Si Robertson and Willie Robertson from the A&E sequence, "Duck Dynasty." (AP)

Willie's spouse Korie, who joined him for the interview, instructed TV Insider that the timing of Phil's demise was "a bit surreal."

"It was actually particular to our household that we had that one little clip," she mentioned. "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."

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"It was actually particular as a result of, for our household, it felt like, ‘OK, that is his alternative to move 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.’

"However we're passing on Phil’s legacy as a result of his legacy was first about religion," she mentioned. "His complete motto was religion, household, geese, in that order. His first was religion. All our children reside that out in actually lovely 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 to be. After which geese. We’re nonetheless operating 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."

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Phil based Duck Commander in 1972. The "Duck Dynasty" tv present premiered 40 years later, in 2012, earlier than it resulted in 2017.

Willie and Korie spoke with Fox Information Digital about Phil's legacy of religion. (A&E Community/Bryan Tarnowski)

Throughout a latest interview with Fox Information Digital, Willie and Korie defined how they had been coping after dropping Phil and the way they had been touched by the outpouring of assist that they obtained from followers.

"I believe it is a mixture 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 mentioned. "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 straight or not directly by way of the present or by way of the podcast or books he has written."

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Whereas Willie shared that it was "tragic" watching his father endure throughout his battle with Alzheimer's, he mentioned it helped put together the household for his passing.

"You are prepared," he mentioned. "We knew, he is prepared to maneuver on and so yeah, it is type of combined. However there was actually extra pleasure."

"Phil pre-warned us," he added.

"We instructed quite a lot of humorous tales and simply introduced again all these enjoyable reminiscences," Korie chimed in. "It is a bit bit the Robertson approach. Even within the arduous issues, we snicker rather a lot by way of it."

Phil and his spouse Kay had been married in 1966 and shared 4 sons. (Duck Commander)

Korie mentioned they hoped future generations could 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 have simply been reminded of again and again is simply this man who lived down on the river, did not 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 mentioned.

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

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"And a modified life," Willie added. "There would by no means have been a ‘Duck Dynasty’ present. There would not 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 on account 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 is all accountable to his religion and his life change, of he and mother collectively to maintain this household collectively," he mentioned. "And now we're seeing a lot fruit of that."