Memorial for ‘Mr. Bulldog’ Bob Duncan set for Monday at Northwest Church

The family of longtime Fresno businessman and prominent Fresno State athletic booster Robert “Bob” Duncan announced that a memorial service will be held Monday at Northwest Church.

Duncan died Wednesday at the age of 94. He was the first CEO and president of Duncan Enterprises, now branded as iLovetoCreate, a family-owned company that started in his mother’s garage in the 1940s and grew to become a leading manufacturer of ceramic arts and craft hobby products with sales worldwide. Duncan was also known for his support for both athletics and academics at California State University, Fresno, leading fund drives that resulted in the construction of Bulldog Stadium, the Duncan Athletic Building that houses offices and training facilities for Fresno State football and soccer programs, and the University Business Center in the Craig School of Business. His contributions and efforts on behalf of the university earned him the nickname “Mr. Bulldog.”

“Everything that my dad did was with absolute passion to make our community a better place to live,” Mr. Duncan’s son, Duncan Enterprises chairman Larry Duncan, said in a written statement issued Thursday afternoon. “He loved Fresno and believed wholeheartedly that we live in an incredible city with so much opportunity and potential.”

Duncan is survived by his wife, Linda Duncan; son and daughter-in-law Larry and Sharon Duncan; daughter and son-in-law Debra and Jim Kratzer; four grandchildren and two stepgrandchildren; and an extended family of great-grandchildren, in-laws, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dick Duncan; a son, Gary Duncan; and stepson Robert Joseph.

The memorial service for Duncan begins at 10 a.m. Monday at Northwest Church, 5415 N. West Ave. The family asked that remembrances be made to the Boys & Girls Club of Fresno or to the Fresno State Bulldog Foundation in lieu of flowers.

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Memorial for ‘Mr. Bulldog’ Bob Duncan set for Monday at Northwest Church."