Francis Harry Zeck Jr. DDS

Francis (Frank) Harry Zeck Jr. DDS, passed away Tuesday, August 27, 2019 under the loving care of Hospice of the Red River Valley and the LB Broen Home in Fergus Falls, MN.

He was born on October 20, 1943 to Francis Harry Zeck Sr. and Yvonne Zeck in Brownsville, Texas. The Zecks were a military family moving around a great deal. He had attended 17 schools before going to college. He attended the University of Portland where he obtained his bachelor’s degree and was commissioned into the US Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1965. Frank was stationed in San Bernardino, CA where he met Dian Simison. They were married on March 18, 1967. Frank was on active duty for 9 years in the Air Force including a year in Korat, Thailand during the Vietnam war. He received a Bronze Star for his service there. In 1974, Frank left active duty Air Force to attend dental school at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1977. He purchased a dental practice in Lisbon, North Dakota the summer of 1978 and practiced there with a magnificent staff until October 2018. He loved dentistry and called his patients his little sparrows. He also loved the military and was part of the Minnesota Air Guard while he was in dental school. After moving to Lisbon, he received an appointment to the South Dakota Air National Guard, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served as the commander of the dental clinic. Frank had the unique opportunity to give his son, John, the Oath of Enlistment into the Military. He retired from the military in 1997 with 23 years of service.

Frank served on the North Dakota State Board of Dentistry and was involved with the Heartland Study Club in Fargo, taking many courses to better his dental skills.

Frank was a man of God. Frank and Dian find comfort be being OBLATES of St. John’s at Collegeville, MN.

Frank loved computers and often wrote stories about his adventures and dentistry; his other passions were photography and flying. He built the wings of an RV-4 aircraft in his basement and this aircraft became his flying sports car. Flying trips were taken by Frank & Dian and others to Churchill, Manitoba to see the polar bears and the beluga whales. He also enjoyed hunting pheasants with his dog.

Frank is survived by his wife Dian, and two sons, John Zeck (Paula), East Grand Forks, MN and Brian Zeck (Aki) of Portland, OR; three grandchildren, Kayla, Nathan and Samantha, a brother, Donald Zeck, Portland OR; many nieces and nephews. HIs very loving yellow lab Kota will miss him dearly. Frank was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation: Thursday, September 5, 2019 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. at St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church, rural Detroit Lakes, MN with a prayer service at 6:00 p.m.

Memorial Mass: Friday, September 6, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Lisbon, ND.

Interment: St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Cemetery, rural Detroit Lakes, MN

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