Robert "Duke" DeForest Sr.

Robert “Duke” DeForest Sr.—beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, engineer, and Navy veteran passed peacefully into the loving embrace of his Savior and eternal companion, Joyce, on September 4, 2026, just two days shy of his 93rd birthday. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of faith, family, service, and love.

Duke was born September 6, 1933, in Rawlins, Wyoming, to Franklin Jacob and Ruth Edwards DeForest.

As a young man, Duke was a gifted athlete who enjoyed competing and being part of a team. His high school basketball team won the state championship, and he went on to play both football and basketball for the University of Wyoming. His love of sports stayed with him throughout his life, and he cheered on his Cowboys until the very end.

Fittingly, it was at a sporting event that Duke met the person who would change his life forever. One evening at a high school basketball game, he met Joyce Ann Waters. What began in high school developed into a love story that spanned nearly seven decades.

After graduating from high school, Duke answered his country’s call by enlisting in the United States Navy during the Korean War. He served aboard the USS Piedmont as an electronics and communications specialist, working on communication systems aboard ships throughout the Navy’s fleet. Duke was never one to shy away from a challenge. While others might have preferred troubleshooting equipment safely from the deck, he courageously climbed high above the ships on towers and masts to repair radios and antennas so the ships could maintain operations.

Duke valued education and had a lifelong curiosity about how things worked. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wyoming and later a master’s degree from Idaho State University. That curious and analytical mind served him well throughout his life.

Duke and Joyce were married June 1, 1957, in Laramie, Wyoming. They built a life together centered on faith, family, learning, service, and a deep devotion to one another.

Together, Duke and Joyce were blessed with five children: Debra (Brian) Maughan, Robert (Bente) DeForest, Richard (Shannon) DeForest, DeAnn (John) Nixon, and Jennifer (Damon) Hatfield. Their family legacy now includes more than 80 descendants and continues to grow.

Duke held many titles during his life, but the titles that meant the most to him were Husband, Dad, and Grandpa.

Family was where Duke was happiest. He delighted in the accomplishments of those he loved. He stood beside them during difficult times and genuinely wanted to know what was happening in their lives. Duke had a way of letting each member of his family know that he loved them and that they mattered to him.

He consistently taught the principles of self-sufficiency and preparedness and was personally very active in emergency preparedness.

Duke served faithfully in many Church callings, including multiple bishoprics, high councils, and priesthood quorum presidencies. Two callings he particularly cherished were serving as bishop of the Crescent 19th Ward and Scoutmaster of Troop 559 in Olympus Cove.

As bishop, he cared deeply for the people he served. As Scoutmaster, he helped young men discover confidence, character, leadership, and faith. Around a campfire or in a bishop’s office, Duke had a gift for seeing potential in people and helping them see it in themselves. Many continued to consider him a mentor and friend long after those callings ended.

Some of Duke’s greatest joys were found outdoors. He especially loved fishing the North Fork of the Snake River in Idaho and spending time in the mountains of Utah and Wyoming. His love for nature and the outdoors became part of the family legacy he passed to the generations that followed.

Above all else, Duke loved his Savior, his wife, and his family. He was not a man who needed to speak loudly to make an impression. He taught honesty by being honest, hard work by working hard, service by serving, and faith by living it. Those lessons remain in the lives of the people who loved him.

After Joyce passed away, those closest to Duke could see how deeply he missed his eternal companion. He often spoke tenderly of his beloved “Hunna Bun.” After nearly 68 years together, life without Joyce was simply different. He remained grateful for his family and the blessings surrounding him, but a part of his heart was waiting for the day when he would be with her again. His faith gave him a quiet assurance that their separation would not last forever.

During this time, Duke also developed another plan for his future: he wanted to re-enlist in the Navy.

His family would gently explain that, although he still had the determination and spirit of a young sailor, the Navy might have reservations about accepting a 91-year-old recruit.

Duke remained unconvinced.

Those conversations became treasured family memories. They captured something wonderful about him, his humility, self-reliance, and patriotism.

More than anything, Duke was ready to see his Hunna Bun again.

Duke was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joyce Ann DeForest; his parents, Franklin and Ruth DeForest; his sister, Julia DeForest; his parents-in-law, Marian “Grace” and Robert Benton Waters; his brothers-in-law, Neil Waters and Al Mossler; his sister-in-law, Carolyn Waters; his granddaughter, Camille Anne Maughan; his son-in-law, Nathan Miller; and his honorary son, Manuel Tallis.

Duke is survived by his five children and their spouses; more than 80 descendants, including grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, with a family that continues to grow; and many extended family members, dear friends, former Scouts, and fellow Church members who will remember his friendship, example, and quiet influence in their lives.

The family is especially grateful to his caregiver, Lili Smouse, for the kindness, tenderness, and loving care she gave Duke during the final season of his life.

Duke leaves behind far more than the record of a life well lived. He leaves pieces of himself in the people he loved, and his legacy will live on in their hearts for generations to come.

Funeral services for Robert “Duke” DeForest Sr. will be held Saturday, September 19, at 11:00 a.m. at the Wanderwood Ward building, 2195 East Pepperwood Drive, Sandy, Utah.

Viewings will be held at the Wanderwood Ward building on Friday from 6:00–8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30–10:30 a.m.

Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah.