Duane Fredricks

The earthly life of Duane Leonard Fredricks ended in Chicago on January 30, 2023. He was 92.  Duane’s life was directed by his loving devotion to his family. He was born on May 29, 1930 in Bismarck, North Dakota, the first child of Dr. Leonard Fredricks and Gertrude (Wiedenhoefer) Fredricks. The family unit was made complete with the birth of a spunky baby sister, Jean Louise, in 1934; Jean still resides in Chicago.

The brilliance of Duane’s mind was clearly obvious to all who engaged it. He was able to recall most of the days of his life with astonishing clarity. Duane frequently reminded the family that while bad memories fade for most people, that wasn’t true for him! He was chosen to deliver the valedictory address for his high school class in 1948 and earned his college degree at the University of Montana in Missoula. He served in the National Guard during the period of the Korean War. He put his skill with mathematics and numbers to good use, working for many years in the field of tax preparation.

Following the death of his father in 1958, Duane’s loving care for his family and home became the center of his life. His precious mother died in 2002, at the age of 102, and Duane was there through all of those years, providing the quiet support needed to keep their home and family together. After 2002, Duane and Jean made many trips back and forth between Bismarck and Chicago, sharing their homes and their lives and helping each other. Though he spent a lifetime on the Great Plains, it was amazing how Duane made the Windy City his place too. He walked the city streets fearlessly and wisely and navigated the public transportation system skillfully.  Chicago became home, because Jean was there.

Duane’s sister Jean, his many cousins, and family friends will miss him and remember him fondly. There are many wonderful memories of this special man: the computer-like mind with its lightening recall of facts on many subjects, his earnestness as he stood, camera at the ready, precisely lining up the perfect photograph, his intense pleasure when consuming anything chocolate, and the mischievous twinkle in his eye whenever his dry sense of humor was allowed to escape. Duane was intelligent, kind, caring, and a completely loyal son and brother.  

For you, Duane, the serious Latin student,”Requiesce in pace.” Rest in peace.

A funeral service will be at 11:00 AM, Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N 4^th St, Bismarck. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.