Robert Eugene Duesterhaus, age 86, passed away at Parc Provence in St. Louis, Missouri on December 22, 2024.

He was born on June 9, 1938, to Cyril and Edith Duesterhaus in Quincy, Illinois. He attended Gentry school, a local one-room school for four years, St. John’s Catholic Grade School, and Quincy Notre Dame in Quincy, Illinois. He served his country as a member of the United States Army Reserves for six years. He enjoyed playing fast pitch softball as a young man.

He married Judith (Peter) Duesterhaus on September 10, 1960, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Mendon, Illinois. She survives.

Robert’s passion was farming. He was raised in the North Quincy river bottoms on a farm purchased by his grandfather in 1924. Robert lived on this farm for his first 55 years, and he and Judy raised their family there. Robert cleared land, was a proud pork producer, and row cropped corn, soybeans and wheat. He battled threatening floods many times. The levee broke 3 times during his farming career, and each time he recovered and continued farming. This farm was designated a Century Farm, 100 years in the Duesterhaus family, in December 2024, a milestone of which Robert was very proud.

Also surviving are their children, Alan (Laurie) Duesterhaus, Brian (Peggy) Duesterhaus, Karen (James) Schuering, Jane (Joseph) Frazier, and Bruce (Angela) Duesterhaus. A daughter, Michelle Duesterhaus Tang, preceded him in death. Also surviving is a son-in-law Jason Tang and his wife, MG McCollough, and their daughter, Mia. Fourteen grandchildren survive, Eric (Lindsey) Duesterhaus, Ethan (Siera) Duesterhaus, Sarah Duesterhaus (Ryan Boone), Matthew (Jennifer) Duesterhaus, Nicole Duesterhaus (Daniel Dohnalek), Steven (MaKayla) Schuering, Kelly Schuering (Ravi Kommajosyula), Kathryn Schuering, Justin (Katherine) Hollensteiner, Joseph (Courtney) Frazier, Nathan (Dasia) Frazier, Dalton Schwarz, Megan (Chris) Doidge, Cole Duesterhaus, and 15 great grandchildren. Also surviving are his sisters Kathleen Venvertloh and Cindy (Kenneth) Frericks, his sister-in-law Mary Ann Peter, brothers-in-law Ross (Lyn) Peter, Ray (Kay) Peter, Richard Rea and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his father- and mother-in-law, Paul and Ruth Peter, his sister, Betty Bergman Henry, brothers-in-law Wayne Bergman, Chuck Henry, Walter Venvertloh, Albert Peter, and Robert Leach, sisters-in-law Mary Rea and Carolyn Peter, and a nephew, Ryan Peter.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, December 30, 2024, at 9:00 AM in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM in St. Francis Catholic Church. Interment in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 3:00 until 6:00 PM at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Quincy Notre Dame or St. Francis Catholic Church. Services arrangements are with Duker & Haugh Funeral Home.