Rickey “Rick” Lee Frendle

Passed: January 02, 2020

Rickey “Rick” Lee Frendle

Passed: January 02, 2020

Obituary

Rickey “Rick” Lee Frendle, 73, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 2, 2020, in Goodyear, AZ, after a long and courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma.

Rick was born in Wichita, KS, on August 31, 1946, to Daryl and Marguerite (Denner) Frendle. Rick grew up in Wichita with two brothers, Fred and Steve. He was a star athlete who attended Wichita North High School and went on to Friends University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He later moved to Albuquerque, NM, where he lived the majority of his life and raised his two children with his loving and adored wife, Julie. He had a 35-year career with Medline Industries, providing hospitals and other health care facilities with medical and surgical products. Rick loved life and lived it to the fullest. He loved his family; being a husband, dad, and grandfather gave him great joy. He was an avid golfer, loved fine wine, and enjoyed traveling the world with Julie. He was best known for his consistently positive attitude, his quick wit, and his ability to make any situation fun. Rick never met a stranger, and everyone who knew Rick loved him. Rick and Julie recently moved from Albuquerque to Goodyear, AZ.

The latter 16 years of his life Rick became known as the ‘miracle man’ because of the determination and success with which he and Julie together battled Multiple Myeloma. Throughout his fight with cancer, he continued to put smiles on the faces around him and always amazed everyone with his continued positivity.

Rick is survived by his wife Julie Wesley Frendle, of Albuquerque, NM, and Goodyear, AZ; daughter Whitney Frendle of Dallas, TX; son Cody Frendle (Monica Unger) and grandchildren Attison and Claira of Denver, CO; brother Steve Frendle of Tampa, FL; and best friend of 50 years, Phil Parker. Rick was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Fred Frendle.

A memorial service will be held at 2:oo pm, Saturday, February 15, 2020, at the Prairie Star Banquet Room, 288 Prairie Star Road, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, just north of Albuquerque.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made instead to Myeloma Crowd, a Crowdcare Foundation, PO Box 1286, Draper, UT 84020. Unfortunately, the software is designed for fundraising instead of memorials. Comments for the family may also be left here https://give.crowdcare.org/fightforrick.

Condolences for the family may be left below.

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17 responses to Rickey “Rick” Lee Frendle

  1. It was our good fortune to know Rick. An amazing man with such a will to fight and live. He is an inspiration to all of us. Our prayers go out to all the family and friends of Rick for strength, peace, and comfort.

    Kurt and Lynn Unger

  2. Joe says:

    My thoughts and prayers are with you folks. I Always enjoyed Rick when I was with him and you are right, he always put a smile on everybody’s face, that was around him, that’s for sure.
    My heart certainly goes out to you folks.

  3. Rick was one of the nicest guys i have ever met. My condolences to his family RIP

  4. So sad to hear of Rick’s passing. He was a good man whom I was privileged to call a friend for almost 40 years. Cheerful though all the vicisitudes of life, he was an unfailingly positive presence in this world. Our sympathies go out to Julie, his family, and all those who knew him. Our lives were all enriched by his being in them.

  5. Karen Kelly says:

    To wife Julie & family, the North High class of 1964 have left several messages. If you would like to see, click on “contact us” on website: wichitanorth64.com

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