Search by Name

Search by Name

FUNERAL HOME

Tossing Funeral Home

39 Washington St

Rutland, Vermont

Robert Duch Obituary

Robert J. Duch, 93, of Rutland, VT, died May 11, 2018, at Rutland Regional Medical Center. He was born March 17, 1925, in Newark, NJ, the son of Frank and Anastasia Duch.
Bob graduated from Danbury (CT) High School in 1942 and joined the war effort in 1943. As a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he determined the plane's position through visual reference to the ground, radio, dead reckoning and celestial navigation. He guided the pilot to targets with precise computations – no computers – for 13 missions.
On Nov. 3, 1945, he married his high-school sweetheart Ruth Weber and earned a BS and MA from UCONN and a Master's in Economics from Yale in 1951. He worked as an administrator in the insurance field, retiring from Mutual Benefit Life in New Jersey in 1985 and moved to Vermont in 2005.
Known for his love of family, jazz, cats, travel and storytelling, Bob was an avid skier, tennis player, reader and learner.
As a 91-year old "non-traditional student" at Castleton University, he brought experiences and anecdotes to classes that both students and teachers appreciated. "He was able to stimulate historical empathy" and "provided little insights about different time periods that we don't think about because he was there," noted Professor Carrie Waara in a Castleton Spartan feature story by Jadie Dow.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth; children Karen Lorentz (John), Anita Duch, Roberta Ballou (Don), Carolyn Duch (fiancé Gary) and Robert J. Duch Jr.; four grandsons Jason (Dayna), Jonathan (Carmen) and James (Erin) Lorentz, and Geoffrey Ballou; and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by three sisters and daughter-in-law Mona.
A family celebration of his amazing life was held in a beautiful outdoor setting on warm, sunshiny May 13. Hugs, love, laughter and "fantastic" memories were shared amidst the sounds of Molly's woofs and children playing.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rutland Free Library, 10 Court St., Rutland, VT 05701; or to the Rutland County Humane Society, 765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT 05763.
Arrangements are with Tossing Funeral Home.

Published by Rutland Herald from May 12 to May 15, 2018.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Duch

Not sure what to say?





3 Entries

My thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time.

Barbara Foley

May 14, 2018

Keeping you close in spirit at this sad time.

Jan Tofferi

May 12, 2018

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Duch family and friends at this difficult time. No doubt he was a source of strength to the family and his friends.

So please find strength, peace and comfort knowing that God understands your grief and that he cares very much for each of you. 1 Peter 5:6 & 7

Taw Willis

May 12, 2018

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 results

Memorial Events
for Robert Duch

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Tossing Funeral Home

39 Washington St, Rutland, VT 05701

How to support Robert's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Robert Duch's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more