Obituaries
William F. Duesterberg, a longtime business and civic
leader in Vincennes, passed away after a long illness in St. Louis on Sunday,
Dec. 21, 2008. He was a lifelong resident of Vincennes but spent his last
two years in a retirement community in St. Louis.
"Bill," as he was known to his family and friends, was prominent for many years
in the business, civic and social life of Vincennes and the state of Indiana. He
operated the Duesterberg Drug stores, founded in 1909 by his father, and
several "Kate's Hallmark House" gift shops in Vincennes and surrounding cities,
until his retirement.
Throughout his career he was active in many civic organizations, serving as a
Rotarian for more than 60 years and as president of its Vincennes chapter in
1960, a two-term board of directors member of the Vincennes Chamber of Commerce,
a member of the Vincennes Board of Parks and Recreation, a member of the
Governor's Advisory Board for Distributive Education (1962 to 1963), a founding
member of the Vincennes Catholic High School Board of Directors and president of
its PTA, a founding member of the Vincennes University Newman Foundation, a
founding member of the Vincennes Christian Education Foundation and on the board
of the Purdue chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. His professional
associations include the Knox County and Indiana Pharmaceutical Associations,
the National Association of Retail Druggists and the Indiana Rexall Club, which
he served as president from 1965 through 1968.
Duesterberg was an active volunteer in local, state and national politics. He
was a reliable and effective fundraiser for local and national charitable and
educational causes. He was an avid golfer and long-standing member of the Elks
Country Club. In his retirement he enjoyed visiting with friends and family at
his summer residence in Holland, Mich., and in traveling in the United States
and around the world. A highlight was his 50th wedding anniversary, which was
celebrated with his family in southern France.
Duesterberg was born in Vincennes on June 10, 1923, the son of William G. and
Helen Krack Duesterberg. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1941,
and his college career at Purdue University was quickly interrupted by World War
II. He served in the Army from 1942 to 1946 as a field artillery officer, with
duty in Hawaii, the Philippines and in occupied Japan. After his honorable
discharge, he resumed studies at Purdue University, where he received a B.S. in
pharmacy in 1948.
In 1947, Duesterberg married Virginia L. Dora, and they established a
family that grew to eight children who were educated in the local Catholic
schools. He was a lifelong member of St. John Catholic Church. He is survived by
his wife of 61 years and seven children and their families, Gary and his wife
Adora Ku of Atlanta, Tom and his wife Susan Cooper of Washington, D.C., Dick and
wife Ann of Mountain View, Calif., Mary and husband Jim Pandjiris of St. Louis,
Kate and husband Will Allen of East Thetford, Vt., Jane Duesterberg of
Evansville and Dave and wife Margie of Holland. He is also survived by 12
grandchildren. A son, Dan, passed away in 1995.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John
Catholic Church in Vincennes, with burial following at Mount Calvary Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Duesterberg-Frederick Funeral Home
from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that
memorial contributions be made to the Christian Education Foundation, 210
Barnett St., Vincennes, IN 47591.
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