I did not sleep much Tuesday night, Oct. 7. As I sat in a chair, my mind was racing of thoughts and memories of my time spent with the gentle giant we called Duck. My memories were flooding with some of the early times in our life. At first he was the bigger brother of my good friend Terry. Duck loved his brothers and a friend of Terry's was an immediate friend of Duck's. After Duck graduated from Wadena High School he took a job at the lumberyard. I was a teen-ager having to work in the yard, at a job I did not particularly care for. But when Duck showed up it became a much easier place to be due to his presence. I don't think I made Duck's work experience that great due to my immature behavior, but we had some real fun times reflecting about the "situations" I put him through. During these short years of working together, a bond of a lifetime of friendship developed. He taught me things about being a really good person in his daily examples of being Duck. I recognize today the magnitude of what a really good person he is.
Not once did I ever notice Duck show emotions of the negative kind. When playing golf, baseball, softball, or just every day kind of things, he was never jealous, angered at, or envious of. It was a good pitch that guy hit, a good catch he made, or a good putt his opponent had sunk. I could show him a car I bought, things I had done or people I met and he was always interested and positive. I knew I would always get that feeling he was happy or proud of me.
Duck could always make you feel good about yourself. Selfish or self-centered he was not. He was comfortable just being a good friend. Duck was a good friend to many people. His friendship expanded beyond any kind of perceived boundaries. In a world, today, full of differences that define people did not apply to Duck and his friendships. How is that possible? It is due to Duck's family and his own innate ability to find the goodness in others. He knew we all had some.
Duck was true. He would laugh with you and at you, but the difference was when he laughed at you he would tell you why. When he told you it was never vindictive but as someone who cared about you and he let you know that a mistake was made. He did it in a way that made you recognize the mistake without feeling too bad. He did it with care in his eyes and a smile that told you that you were going to be OK and he was your friend. I always felt safe with Duck around because he would protect his friends mentally and physically, if needed. He was there when I needed him and I'm sure many feel the same way.
Duck came from a very loving family. His dad, Mel Sr., and his mom, Toby, should be so proud of the son they raised. My dad once told me if when we die and have had one very good friend we would have been lucky. I hope Duck realizes, if that is the case, how lucky he was with all those who loved him and considered him a very good friend. Duck led his life with examples of being good that we can all aspire to. It is apparent that God now needs Duck for other purposes.
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You will be thought of and remembered at all the places you touched with your huge heart. Duck, we cannot replace the huge void that you have left, however, we can all aspire to be more like you so you will never be forgotten.
Your friend,
Harry Merickel
Wadena
