“The Challenge” star Tyler Duckworth was honored at a private funeral service held Saturday at the Augustana Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
His co-star Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, who referred to Duckworth as his “brother,” attended the service and shared behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram. In one image, Devenanzio was seen with his head lowered, touching a wooden urn. He also posted pictures of memorial pamphlets bearing Duckworth's name and a biblical passage. Devenanzio delivered a speech at the funeral.
"Lights will guide you home," Devenanzio captioned the photos. "And I hope wherever they lead you, you know how deeply you were loved, and how much of you we’ll carry with us forever. Rest easy, brother."
Greg Bennett-Cesarini, who previously appeared on “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” also attended. He recounted meeting Duckworth in 2007 and described him as a significant presence in his life for two decades, calling him "the smartest person in a room."
Duckworth died on August 11. His mother, Joni, confirmed his passing, stating that the cause of death was unknown. According to a Grand Forks Police Department report, Duckworth was found unresponsive. Reports indicated his bathtub was overflowing, and a downstairs neighbor had complained about water leaking from the ceiling.
It remains unclear how long Duckworth had been deceased when he was found, though witnesses had seen him the day prior. He had recently undergone surgery, but whether this contributed to his death is unconfirmed.
Duckworth’s last public appearance was at a Challenge Mania event in Minneapolis on July 31. He was 44 years old.