Patterson Cemetery District, Stanislaus County, CA, Obituaries 

Submitted by Gale Stroud and Burta Herger 22 Jul 2012

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Patterson Irrigator, 12/08/2011 p 11

Lewis Stanley Duck 
Aug. 22, 1942 — Nov. 30, 2011
Diablo Grande – Stan Duck, the original overseer and long term guardian of the 33,000 acre Diablo 
Grande Resort property west of Patterson has died after a long term and brave battle with skin cancer. 
He was 69.
Mr. Duck was born in Braselton, Ga., and grew up in and around Gainesville, Ga. He attended South 
Hall High School where he loved to play basketball and played on his high school’s team. Mr. Duck wanted 
to play football but it was against his father’s wishes, but eventually he was able to join the team as their 
equipment manager. His classmates elected him senior class president.
His first job was as a clerk in a Gainesville grocery store, and he was later promoted to produce manager. 
He worked as a reporter for several newspapers, and was noted for being open minded, a good listener, 
and for his ability to accurately cover stories in great detail. He was a printing press operator for John 
Harland Company, and then served as a sales representative for JHC working in southern and southwestern 
cities, including: New Orleans, Atlanta, Houston and San Diego as well as San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In 1985, Mr. Duck took a job with Don Panoz at Chateau Élan, in Braselton, Ga., as a construction field 
coordinator. He first came with Panoz to visit what is now Diablo Grande in 1989 when it was still a cattle 
ranch. Mr. Duck started working at Diablo Grande in 1990 and was the first employee. He literally set up 
camp and lived in a small travel trailer for years before his house was built overlooking what is now the back 
portion of the Legend’s West Golf Course. Every plan that was drawn, every road that was cut, every pipe 
that was laid, every yard of concrete that was poured, had Mr. Duck’s heart and soul stamped on it.
Mr. Duck retired from his long term role as general manager of the Western Hills Water District in August 
2011. Mr. Duck was a member of Zion Baptist Church in Braselton, Ga.
 
Mr. Duck is survived by his first wife, Sara Weiler, and their three children, Stanley Weiler, Stephen Weiler 
and Susan Weiler; his second wife, Brenda Dinkins Piland, and their two children, Jennifer Duck King, and 
Kenny Duck; and six grandchildren and dear friend and colleague Jerry Phillips. His parents, Gibson Lewis 
Duck and Allene Louise White Duck and his older brother, Kenneth Ray Duck, preceded him in death.
A Celebration of Life is planned at Diablo Grande Club House and gazebo at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. 
Burial will be in Georgia.
Memorial contributions in Mr. Duck’s name may be sent to Westside Food Pantry, C/O., 20 S. Fifth St. Patterson, 
CA 95363. Hillview Funeral Chapel, 450 W. Las Palmas Ave., Patterson, is handling the arrangements.