DUCLOS, Alvin Luke 1932-2016

DUCLOS, SCHICHTL

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 5/17/2016 at 13:53:43

Alvin Luke Duclos, 84, died peacefully on Saturday, May 14, at his home due to complications of heart disease. He was born April 10, 1932 in Manila, Ark, son of Arthur and Clara Duclos. He was one of seven children. He married Magdalen (Della) Schichtl on August 30, 1958.

Al earned his Bachelors of Science in Agronomy from the University of Arkansas in 1962. After graduating, he continued farming with his family in Osceola and Wilson, Ark. He went on to work for Allied Chemical, as a sales representative, and then for First American Farms, a division of Bunge Corporation. As a farm manager for First American he managed over 44,000 acres of farmland. After Bunge sold the First American Farms division, he continued employment with Bunge, managing a grain elevator in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and then moved to Miller-Bowie County Farmers Elevator and Feed Mill in Texarkana, Arkansas, where he retired in 1999.

Al was retired military, spending 23 years in the Arkansas Army National Guard. He was a graduate of Artillery School, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and of Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Warfare School, Fort Hood, Texas. He was very proud of his military service and his family proud of him.

Al was a product of the depression and from that was an early leader for “reuse-renew-recycle” programs, especially the “reuse” part. He never threw away anything that had the potential for another use. In the 70’s, he established his own 5 acre community garden, providing produce to the many families who worked the land for First American Farms. Even in retirement, he grew a large garden, annually giving the excess to the Salvation Army.

He was a long time member of the Knights of Columbus in Texarkana, providing leadership to their many volunteer and fundraising activities. With his wife Della, they started a very successful Explorers troupe (part of the Boy Scouts of America) in Texarkana and spent many a night chaperoning co-ed campouts. At Blessed Sacrament he volunteered as a Eucharistic Minister. Al enjoyed life. He had a unique sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. And, not to be forgotten, Al had a huge sweet tooth. He never met a dessert, with ice cream, that he didn’t like!

Alvin is survived by five children and seven grandchildren; Leslie Wilson (Reid) of Cedar Falls and children Sarah, Kelsey, Hannah, Jaime and Rachel; D’Anne Duclos of Dallas, TX; Greg Duclos (Peggy) of Lubbock, TX and children Paden and Tyler; Sharon Duclos of Cedar Falls; Leigh Tiehen (Brian) of Houston, TX.; as well as two brothers, Zachary Duclos (Carolyn) of Athens, GA; and Leo Duclos (Jennifer) of Ocala, FL. He is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Clara, and siblings Hannah, Russell, Rosalie, Leon, and Johnny.

Alvin was a loved husband, father, pawpaw, farmer, soldier and friend. He will be greatly missed.

Services: 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 21, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Waterloo, with inurnment in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Conway Arkansas, on Friday, May 27. Full military rites will be conducted at the church by the Waterloo Amvets Post 19 and Evansdale Amvets Post 31, assisted by the Iowa Army Honor Guard. Public visitation 4-7 P.M. Friday, May 20, at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway, where there will be a 4 P.M. rosary and 7 P.M. vigil service. Visitation also one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.

Memorials: may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Fund.

Source: Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service website