Merrill Dean Freck

(Durham, NC).  Merrill D. Freck, age 94, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed into the loving arms of his Lord Jesus Christ on May 12, 2022. Merrill was born on March 23, 1928, to Dean Lazell Freck and Ozella Marie Freck in Huntington, Indiana and eventually grew up in Oak Harbor, OH. 

Merrill graduated from the University of Toledo in 1950 and completed his technical training in Medical Technology at Ohio State University a year later.  He served in the US Army stateside for two years during the Korean War and then moved to Denver, CO to pursue a career as a medical technologist spending most of his years working at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center.  After marrying and raising a son in Denver, Merrill moved to Durham, North Carolina to be closer to his grandchildren in 2004.  He was a devoted husband to his wife, Frances, and enjoyed attending sporting events, going to church, reading about US History and, in his later years, spending time with his granddaughters, Julianne and Natalie.  He will be remembered as a kind, caring and humble person who always put the interests of others before himself. 

Merrill is survived by his son Dean Freck, wife Jill and two granddaughters, Julianne and Natalie of Durham, NC and his sister Mary-Sue Van Horn of Marlton, NJ, his niece Kathy Dickason of Indianapolis, IN, niece Mary Hanan of Glenridge, NJ and nephew Michael Van Horn of Poulsbo, WA.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Frances. 

A Funeral Service will be offered at 2:00pm on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 from The Chapel at Hall-Wynn Funeral Service, 1113 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701 with Rev. Chris Garrett, presiding.  Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial.

The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00pm prior to the service at Hall-Wynn Funeral Service, 1113 West Main Street, Durham, NC  27701.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in the memory of Merrill Freck to the Duke Heart Center.  Checks may be written to Duke Heart and mailed to: Duke Heart Development, c/o Jillian Ream, Alumni and Development Records, Duke University, Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708.  Please note Merrill Freck’s name in the memo line of the check.  Gifts may be made online at gifts.duke.edu/dmaa.

The Freck family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.