Jerome John Duncan

Jerome John Duncan

A Mass of Christian Burial for Jerome John Duncan will be held at 1:30 P.M. on Friday, August 18, 2017, at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church with Rev. Chad Partain officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park under the direction of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 17, 2017, and resume from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. on Friday, August 18, 2017, at the funeral home. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 6:30 P.M. on Thursday, August 17, 2017, in the Kramer Chapel.

Jerome John Duncan, 96, of Alexandria, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, in his residence.

Jerome is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph B. and Veronica Welling Duncan; 4 siblings, Ruth Wiltz, Eugene Duncan, Richard Duncan, Hubert Duncan; and 2 grandchildren, Eric Steichen and Rocky Craig.

Born in Germantown, Illinois in 1920, Jerome was the eldest of eight children born to Joseph B. and Veronica Welling Duncan. Jerry served in the United States Navy during World War II in New Zealand and several of the Pacific islands as a pharmacist mate. When the war ended, Jerry served a year at Annapolis. He was hired by the Meyer Bros. Drug Co. in St. Louis and transferred to the New Orleans District and then to Alexandria, where he met the love of his life, Mary Moore. A devout Catholic, Jerry belonged to St. Frances Cabrini Church where he served as usher, lector, Eucharistic Minister, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. After retirement, he volunteered at the Shepard Center for many years. "Grandpa" was a magician, thrilling his children and grandchildren at birthday parties. He loved to read, garden, and was a great cook, even publishing his own cookbook for family. Jerry wrote his autobiography which recounts a life full of adventure, hard work, and service to his family and church. Jerry always exhibited his sweet sense of humor. Jerry always professed that his job was to get his children to heaven. This and his devotion to his wife was a gift to us all.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 68 years, Mary Duncan; 7 children, Richard Duncan and wife, June, Martha Duncan Raster, Anne Duncan Steichen and husband, Jean, Joseph Duncan and wife, Bevie, Jane Duncan Charvat and husband, Bill, Claire Duncan Webb and husband, Peter, and Edmund Duncan and wife, Staci; 21 grandchildren, Jennifer Duncan, Sarah Mealer (Chester), Richard "Buck" Duncan, William Duncan, Rip Raster, Duncan Raster, Jerri Lynn Grafton, Elizabeth Hines (John), Gregory Upton, Jr. (Amy), Stephen Upton (Katie), John Upton, Marie Bergeron, Joseph Webb, Lily Webb, Jerome Duncan (Sarah), James Duncan, Mark Duncan, Emilie Duncan, George Hines (Joni), Ethan Hines, and Emory Hines; 3 siblings, John Duncan (Florence), Mother RoseMary Duncan, and James Duncan; along with 20 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be the grandsons.

Memorials can be made to St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and School, 2211 E. Texas Ave, Alexandria, LA., 71301.

To extend online notes of condolence to the Duncan Family, please visit www.KramerFunerals.com.