Edwin Duckart

“A Light has gone out in our house”

Edwin, Eddie, “Mr. Ed” Duckart, age 86 passed away at St Vincent Hospital on Saturday, April 18, 2026, with his family at his side.

Edwin was born August 25, 1939, to Raymond and Agnes Valenta Duckart. He married Donna Mahlik on May 12, 1962. Together they enjoyed 63 years together.

He was a busy work man. No grass grew under his feet. Ed delivered home heating oil/petroleum via gas truck for 29 years. Companies he drove for were: Standard Oil, Jansen Oil Company, Steffel Oil Company, Denmark Cooperative. His next job was for the Denmark School District where he was employed as a building engineer for 14 years. In that time, he also drove school bus for the district for 42 years, where he was picking up kids going on 3 generations. He was also a member of the Denmark School Board of Education for 12 years. A short time while his kids were small, he also worked at Brillion Works. In retirement, you could not keep a good man down. He worked as a building and grounds keeper for the former Denmark State Bank located in Maribel. When the building was sold, he continued to work for Via Rail Engineering.

Ed served in the Army Reserve for 6 ½ years ending as a staff sergeant when he was discharged. He became a member of American Legion Post 363 where he served as Chaplain for a number of years.

Being a civic minded person, Ed was an active member of St James Catholic Church in Cooperstown for over 60 years. He was a communion distributor, lector, long time usher, helped with funeral dinners, fundraisers, and fun and faith. He was a member of Catholic Financial Life Chapter 258 where he was also Chaplain. When he moved to Maribel, he became a member of the Maribel Fire Department and the Maribel Lions Club, where he was the last original living charter member of the club. You could see him delivering Meals On Wheels to the homebound for ADRC and working at Rubys Pantry in Denmark.

Ed was a man who loved life and family. He loved polka music, - watching “Molly B” and “Polka, Polka, Polka.” He didn’t need to go traveling; he was content riding his tractor and keeping the 2 acres he owned looking “spiffy”. In his younger days, he enjoyed bowling, trips to Milwaukee Brewer games, and a good hand of sheepshead with friends. There was not anything he couldn’t build- give him your idea! He could fix almost anything, even if he had to modify a project.

Survivors include his wife, Donna; 4 children, Greg (Sheri) Duckart, Nancy (Jim) Van Elzen, Michael (Kim) Duckart, Mark (Michelle) Duckart. 9 Grandchildren: Crystal (Justin) Short, Travis (fiancée Amanda Irwin) Schuster, Ashley (Phil) Rothmann, Samantha (Joe) Nickodem, Alexandra (special friend Jared Bielinski) Duckart, Cassy (Zack) DeNoble, Lacey (Dylan) Nichols, Nicole Duckart and Nathan Duckart. 13 Great Grandchildren; Mallory, Roman, Elodie, Myles, Lauren, Lindsey, Sophia, Gracie, Isabella, Liam, Parker, Holden, and Hailey. Further survivors include: 2 brothers, Ronald (Joan) Duckart, Richard (Donna) Duckart. 1 sister-in-law, Darlene (Mark) Loritz. 2 brothers-in-law, Dennis Mahlik, and Don (Gloria) Mahlik. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Agnes Duckart, his stepmother, Clara Duckart, 4 sisters Laverne (Harvey) Jorgensen, Lorraine (Sylvester) Parma, Carol (Wayne) Herold, and Joyce (Leroy) Cherney. 1 sister-in-law, Margaret Mahlik, 1 nephew, Bruce Cherney.

Friends may call on Sunday, April 26, 2026, from 3 – 7 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm at Cotter Funeral Home, 536 County Road R, Denmark and the next day, April 27, at St James Catholic Church, 18228 County Rd R, Denmark (Cooperstown), from 9:00 to 10:30 with the funeral mass at 11 am.

Special thanks to St Vincent Comprehensive Stroke Center and 6th Floor ICU for all they did for ED.

A military graveside ceremony will be held.