Dr. Carl R. Dudeck had 43-year practice
Carl R. Dudeck, M.D., 84, passed away Friday at his home following a six-month illness.
He was born Jan. 27, 1925, in Nanticoke, the son of Rudolph and Anna Rostalski Dudeck.
Following graduation from Nanticoke High School, he entered Bucknell College.
He was completing his freshman year when he was called to serve in World War II. He entered the Navy and first served with the Seabees in Newfoundland. He had the opportunity to experience many things as a Seabee such as serving on a sub chaser and viewing Zeppelins up close.
While he was there he qualified to enter the U.S. Naval Medical Corps School. He graduated first in his class and was given the choice of any Naval base to serve. He chose the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, where he served until the war's end. From this experience, he decided that helping people would become his goal in life.
After the war, he continued his education, graduating from Bucknell College and then attending Thomas Jefferson Medical College. He did his internship and residency in surgery at Polyclinic Hospital in Harrisburg. Upon arriving in Butler in 1958, he worked with Dr. Lutton and then went into practice with Dr. Carl Danielson Sr.
Following Dr. Danielson's retirement, he worked his remaining years alone until his retirement in 2001.
Dr. Dudeck was a past chief of surgery and president of the medical staff at Butler Memorial Hospital. He was instrumental in introducing the use of suturing staples. In addition to surgery, he was passionate about helping treat burn and cancer patients, working with research labs and doing independent research himself.
Dr. Dudeck was a member of the Butler Medical Society, the International College of Surgeons, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the Society of Abdominal Surgeons, the American Burn Association, and the American Geriatrics Society.
He also was a 60-year member of the Nanticoke 541 Masons, the New Castle Consistory and Syria Shrine, and the American Legion Post 778 in Lyndora.
Dr. Dudeck was a loving and caring person who always had a smile. He enjoyed life and had many wonderful experiences. He enjoyed Western books and movies and never went anywhere without a fine cigar. He was an Eagle Scout as a child and a scoutmaster for his sons.
His wife, Frances Wentzel Dudeck, who he married June 17, 1953, survives him.
Also surviving are his children and their spouses, Carl Dudeck Jr. of Harrisburg, Lance and Pamela Jean Dudeck of Hubbard, Ohio, Keith and Pamela Ann Dudeck of Ruffs Dale, and Leatha and Paul Baker of Evans City; six grandchildren, Lauren, Jessie, Kevin, and Phillip Dudeck, and Nathan and Carlie Baker; a sister, Lois Sprow in York; and numerous nieces and nephews.
An infant sister, Dorothy, preceded him in death.
<B>DUDECK — </B>Friends of Carl R. Dudeck, who died Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St.Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church in Butler with the Rev. David Panther, pastor, officiating. Entombment will follow at Butler County Memorial Park.Members of the Victory Lodge 694 F.&A.M. in Butler will conduct Masonic Funeral Services at 6:45 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
