Duane Martin Fredendall

Duane Fredendall, 75, of Imlay City, passed away in his sleep in the early hours of April 18, 2025.
He was born on August 14, 1949, in Port Huron, Michigan, to the late Eileen and Lawrence (Dean) Fredendall. He was the second son in what became a bustling home with nine other siblings. He graduated from Port Huron Catholic High School in 1967.
He served as an electrician's mate in the US Navy during the Vietnam War, first stationed on the U.S.S. Comstock (LSD-19) and later on the U.S.S. Antelope (PG-86). During the war, he participated in Operation Market Time as part of the Coastal Surveillance Force and received commendations, including a Bronze Star Medal and Navy Commendation Medal (NCM) with Combat "V." He was honorably discharged as a Petty Officer Third Class in 1972.
Following his second tour in Vietnam, he returned home and married the love of his life, Doris "Sam" Jeanette Will, on December 4, 1971.
Duane and Sam first met in 1968. At the time, Sam was babysitting her friend's younger sister, who had run off and hidden in a nearby garage. Inside, a group of young men-including Duane-were tinkering with their motorcycles and playfully covering for the girl. Duane later apologized to Sam and invited her to a party, and so began their lifelong journey together.
After his discharge from the Navy, he and Sam moved back to the Blue Water Area, where they lived for nearly 20 years before settling in the countryside near Imlay City, where Duane lived until his passing.
Duane spent his post-military career as an electrician. He worked for over 30 years at the Ford Motor Company before retiring, later resuming work at the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington, and then as a civilian electrician for the U.S. Coast Guard under the Department of Homeland Security, based out of Detroit.
Duane was an industrious man who rarely sat still. He held court in the outbuildings of his country homestead, tinkering with equipment and various home projects. To his family, his presence around the home was one of warm reassurance that everything was as it should be.
He was a devoted father who raised not only his children, all adopted, but opened his home to dozens of children for short and long-term foster care.
Duane enjoyed a good bad joke, a cold beer at the end of a long day, shooting guns, and spending time in his woods. He had a lively appetite for politics, and he and his eldest son could often be found in spirited debate-sometimes sending the rest of the family scattering to other rooms as he egged his son on with a mischievous glint in his eye.
In later years, his loved ones teasingly referred to him as a curmudgeon, and his early exits from family gatherings became part of family lore. Even so, when asked for help-or when speaking on a topic he knew well-he would visibly brighten. Duane was always most in his element when serving others.
Duane is survived by his loving wife, Sam; his sons, Erick (Liz) and Daniel; his daughter, Rachel (Holden) Skuca; his sisters, Marie (Dan) Neaton, Martha, and Mary (David) Shoudy; and his brothers, Lawrence (Elaine), Daniel (Martha Foley), David (Sue), Dominic (Suzanne), Donald, and Chris (Michelle) Berberian.
He was preceded in death by his infant brother, Eric, and his parents, Eileen and Lawrence.
Duane generously donated his remains to support medical research and education. An internment of his ashes may be held at a later date.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Grace Memorial-Smith Chapel, 1525 Hancock Street, Port Huron, MI 48060.
Navy military honors will begin at 4:00 p.m., and family and friends will have time to share memories afterward.
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Habitat for Humanity. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Duane, please visit our floral store.