Watching Phil Robertson’s battle with Alzheimer’s redefined his son Willie Robertson’s own concept of legacy.
“I think it’s just [about] giving and caring about the people you love the most, and that’s the family and the grandkids,” Willie, 53, exclusively told Us Weekly in a cover story published earlier in May. “I mean, every moment now I think about how special it is, like, one Saturday we were down fishing, and so I had ’em all there and just these small, tiny moments.”
He continued, “I think a lot of us just forget about ’em. We don’t think about how special they are. And so, you realize that once you see someone getting really towards the end of their life and won’t be here — or certainly are not in the mental capacity to even have a conversation — those moments are special, and you just want to enjoy ’em and live in that moment, live in the small things and don’t get too caught up in just running after all the things that we run after and we get busy.”
Phil, the Duck Dynasty patriarch, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in December 2024. While speaking with Us the following May, Willie said that his father was “not doing well at all.”
The Robertson family is mourning the loss of Phil Robertson after news broke of his death at age 79. “We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” Willie Robertson’s wife, Korie Robertson, wrote via Facebook on Sunday, May 25. “Thank you for the love and prayers of […]
“You get so caught up, but just to take time and say, ‘Hey, this is special times and moments with the family,’” Willie added to Us of dealing with his father’s diagnosis. “I’ll enjoy ’em as long as I can just to be with those people and enjoy those moments. It’s not long and they’re gone.”
Willie’s wife, Korie Robertson, confirmed weeks later that Phil died at the age of 79.
“We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord,” Korie’s Sunday, May 25, statement shared via social media read. “He reminded us often of the words of Paul, ‘You do not grieve like those who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
She added, “Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus. We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again. We know so many of you love him and have been impacted by his life.”
Phil is survived by his wife, Kay Robertson, their four sons — Willie, Alan, Jase and Jep — as well as multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
According to Willie, Phil’s condition also shifted the siblings’ dynamics.
“I mean, there’s such a great foundation I have with my siblings that we know is there,” Willie told Us. “We know that it was built on just a great relationship of faith and trust and love and forgiveness and all these things. So yeah, those moments are special. We’ve been through a lot together. … It is special when we get together and just smile and realize how far we’ve come, but at the end of the day, we’re still family [and] we’re still siblings.”
He continued, “We’re all trying to have a great relationship with each other. We all have children. We’re trying to navigate through life together, and then, now we have grandkids, [so] we’re doing the same thing. We’re all on that journey together, and it’s special. I’m glad they’re here. I’m glad I get to see ’em a lot ‘cause I know a lot of families don’t get to see each other a lot, but we do. It really has meant a lot.”
