Francis Xavier Duda

Francis X. Duda graduated cum laude from Xavier University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and in 1967 cum laude from Saint Louis University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. He was a member of The Law Journal from 1965 to 1967. He died, surrounded by family, at Evelyn’s House in St. Louis on Saturday January 24, 2026.

Following graduation from college, he was commissioned on July 31, 1964 in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Second Lieutenant. Mr. Duda took the oath as an attorney and became a member of the Missouri Bar on September 6, 1967. He then entered the Judge Advocate General Corps as a Captain and served for three years and seven months which included a tour of duty in Vietnam before receiving an honorable discharge in 1971. He worked as an associate at Bryan, Cave, McPheeters & McRoberts, and, thereafter, at Keefe, Schlafly, Griesedieck & Ferrell where he became a partner on July 1, 1975. He became a member of The Illinois Bar Association in 1980. In 1986, he joined Armstrong, Teasdale, Kramer, Vaughan & Schlafly as a partner until he left the firm to join Anderson & Gilbert on September 1, 1989.

Mr. Duda was the Chairman of the Judicial Facilities Committee from 1987 to 1994; Co-Chairman of the Cornerstone Campaign; Co-Chairman of the Bench & Bar Committee from 1994 to 1996; and Co-Chairman of The Illinois Law Committee. In 1992, he received the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit Distinguished Service Award and The Missouri Bar Foundation Spurgeon Smithson Award "For extraordinary service toward the increase and diffusion of justice in society and for dedication to the purposes of the legal profession". He received a President's Outstanding Service Award for the 1999-2000 bar year. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public Library from July 17, 1988 until June 30, 1998. He also served as a member of The Law Library Association Board of Trustees, and as the President and a Trustee of the Missouri Supreme Court Historical Society. He was a past President of the St. Louis University Law Alumni Association (1983-1985) and a past member of the St. Louis University Alumni Council (1980-1985). On October 19, 1985, he received an Award of Appreciation from the St. Louis University Law School Alumni. He was a member of The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, The Lawyers Association of Saint Louis and the St. Louis County Bar Association.

Mr. Duda is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Jean Peterson Duda, and two of their three children, namely Steven Michael Duda and Thomas Andrew Duda, Esq. (San Francisco). Their daughter, Anne Duda Mayes, predeceased him. Anne and her husband, Jeremy Mayes, are the parents of Ryan Michael Mayes.

A Visitation will be held on February 3, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, located at 6464 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109.

The Funeral Service will follow on the same day at 12:00 pm at the same venue.

Burial will be at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Please join us for a luncheon at the funeral home following the service, as we come together to share memories and support one another.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider gifts to the American Lung Association.