He is survived by two daughters: Gretchen (Michael) Petrunich of Brownsburg, IN, and Megan (Aaron) Donnelli of Germantown Hills, five grandchildren he adored; Sydney, Jacob, and Marisa Petrunich, and Anna and Katie Donnelli and two brothers; Gene (Janette) Duchardt of California and David (Sherry) Duchardt of Morton, IL.
He attended Bradley University and Purdue University, graduating with a degree in civil engineering.
Mr. Duchardt was a hard and dedicated worker from a young age. He started work at age 12, working in the family meat market, meat cutter 3 years at C-W super market. He spent 4 summers working as an engineering technician at IDOT and Warren-Van Praag Consulting engineering. In college, he worked at Harry’s Chocolate Shop as a bartender at Purdue. He worked at International Harvester as an assistant mechanical engineer, and was division head of industrial engineering at Hart Carter Company, becoming a manufacturing manager over 2 plants, purchasing, industrial and manufacturing engineering. He became a State Farm Agent in 1979, and retired after 27 years with the company.
Mr. Duchardt loved his community and participated by donating over 124 units of blood. He was an E-5 in the United States Army Reserves. He was also a member of the Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church, and Wesley United Methodist Church, and a past certified lay speaker, Sunday school teacher, and president of the men’s group and won the spark plug award from Peoria District United Methodist Church. He was a school board member for 13 years in Mendota and Canton school districts. Serving as past secretary on the Mendota Board, and past president on the Canton Board. He served as a chairman of the Canton planning and zoning board, and a 30 year member of the Mendota and Canton Kiwanis Club, serving as distinguished secretary and twice past distinguished President of the Canton Kiwanis.
Mr. Duchardt was a board member of the Chamber of Commerce in Mendota and past president of the Chamber of Commerce in Canton. He also served on the boards of the United Way, and the Wee Ma Tuk Water District.
Mr. Duchardt loved travel, and traveled in eleven northern European countries, New Zealand, and to China. He enjoyed sharing his joy of travel with his family, and sharing his love of the outdoors and fishing with his dear friends, traveling over 100 times to the north-woods of Minnesota, and Canada where he fished, canoed, and went dog sledding.
There will be a Celebration of Life from 1- 3 pm, Saturday, March 28th at Wesley United Methodist Church in Canton. Memorials can be made to Illinois Cancer Care Foundation. Cremation rites have been accorded. To view Kelly’s DVD or make online condolences you can go to www.sedwickfuneralhomes.com. Murphy-Sedgwick Memorial Home is in charge of arrangements.
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