He was known as a symbol of faith, family, and old-school wisdom. He lived simply, spoke plainly, and inspired millions. But this week, his journey on Earth came to an end.

The message shared by his family came as a shock to fans who had followed his life for years — watching how he loved, prayed, laughed, and shared his beliefs with anyone who would listen.

In their farewell message, his loved ones described him as a father, husband, and grandfather — a man unafraid of either life or death. He often said that death was not an end but a return home.

Only then was it revealed that the man was Phil Robertson, star of Duck Dynasty, who passed away at the age of 79 after a heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

His daughter-in-law Korie Robertson wrote: “Today we celebrate that our father, husband, and grandfather is now with the Lord. His faith never wavered. He was never afraid of death. He saw it as a return to the Kingdom of God.”

Fans flooded social media with tributes, calling him “America’s Grandpa.” One wrote: “He put smiles on all our faces. A man of true substance.”

His illness had been made public late last year in the Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast, where the family also shared that he had been struggling with a blood condition in addition to Alzheimer’s.

His son Jase Robertson explained that in the final months, Phil was reunited in care with his ailing wife Kay, who also requires full-time medical attention. “He’s been so much calmer since she came back. That’s meant everything,” Jase said.