Norman Franklin Duckwitz Jr.

Norm Duckwitz, 79, passed away quietly in his sleep early Sunday morning on June 5, 2016. Born on November 16, 1936 in Buffalo, NY, Norm was an athlete, a patriot, and a family man who fully embodied the ideal American values throughout his entire life.

After he graduated high school he served the Air National Guard for 8 years, and went on to manage communications for California during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He had a 35 year career with the telephone company with his last major role as Ventura County Services Manager for AT&T based in Ventura. Politics, news and world events were all things he followed passionately and never failed to enthusiastically engage in conversations on these topics. He followed the news so thoroughly that it was a rare day when you didn’t learn something new from him. A born athlete, he loved competing in many sports including softball tournaments and following sports closely. Norm had such a profound personal athletic determination that continued to drive him even when his body began to slow down. Quite the fighter, he was always in pursuit of self-betterment in any way he could be.

One of his most admired attributes, however, was his love and devotion to his family. He was never one to think twice about making sacrifices for the ones he loved most, and was always there to give his time to lend a hand whenever he was needed. Norm exemplified honesty, kindness, integrity, trust, love, and unity -- values he passed down to each of his children, along with demonstrating a quick wit and sense of humor to the end.

Norm is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dori, their three children David Duckwitz and his wife Amy, Cyndi and her husband Bill Wright, Mark Duckwitz and his wife Angela, his five grandchildren Kathryne, Hannah, Carter, Madison and Brooklyn and his sister Evelyn and brother-in-law Richard Rohde and their children and grandchildren. He will be honorably remembered and lovingly in our hearts forever.

Memorial services will be held at the Charles Carroll Funeral Home on Saturday June 11th at 11am.