'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson dies at 79 following Alzheimer's diagnosis

( WDSU )

"Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson has died. He was 79.

The reality star's daughter-in-law Korie Robertson — who is married to Willie Robertson — shared the news in a Facebook post on Sunday, May 25, months after his family revealed in December that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

"We celebrate today that our father, husband, and grandfather, Phil Robertson, is now with the Lord," Korie said in the post.

"Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus. We know so many of you love him and have been impacted by his life.

We’re having a private service for now, but we’ll share details soon about a public celebration of his life."

Phil's Alzheimer's diagnosis was first made public on the Dec. 6 episode of the Unashamed with the Robertson Family podcast. At the time, Jase Robertson revealed that his father was in the “early stages” of the illness.

He said his father's Alzheimer's "accelerated, and it's causing problems with his entire body," and added that he's just not doing well. He's really struggling."

"Duck Dynasty" aired on A&E and followed members of the Robertson family — including Phil and Kay Robertson, alongside three of their sons, Jase, Willie and Jep, plus several grandchildren and a few of their employees as they worked together at their family business, Duck Commander.

The series ended in 2017 after 11 seasons.

Phil, a Louisiana native and the founder and president of the hunting company Duck Commander, started the family business in 1972 with a now-patented duck call.

He married Kay when she was 17, after she became pregnant with the couple’s first son.