Douglas L. Frodine

Douglas Lee (Doug) Frodine, 75, passed away at his home on August 10, 2016 after a long battle with lung cancer and COPD. He was born on September 30, 1940 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His parents were Lavona E. Mueller and Delmont L. (Red) Frodine. They later divorced and both remarried. His parents and step-parents (Sylvester (Sally) Mueller and Naomi Frodine) all preceded him in death.

When Doug was about 2, his parents and he moved to North Denver. He grew up in a house near 44th & Lowell Blvd. His mother stayed in that same house until her death in 2004. Doug graduated from North High School in 1958 and married his high school sweetheart, Patty Hankel the same year. He always had a job of some kind from the time he was 14, working at the nearby grocery store, a children’s furniture store near Lakeside, United Airlines as a fueler after graduation for a short time. But his life goal and passion was to go into law enforcement.

In 1963, Doug joined the Denver Police Force after going through the police academy. He was a police officer for the rest of his working life, starting out walking a beat downtown around Larimer Street, to working in Denver Districts 1 & 2, twelve years at Stapleton International Airport, and finally at the Property Bureau in downtown Denver until his retirement in 1992. During his police years he always had a second job—ranging from working security at different businesses and hotels, riding motorcycle escort for funeral processions and many other side jobs. He owned a funeral motorcycle escort service for a few years in the 1970s.

He and Patty had 3 children, Cindy Lee Frodine, Sheryl Ann Frodine and Douglas Lee Frodine, Jr. between the years of 1959 and 1964. They divorced in 1969. Doug has a daughter-in-law Layna Renee (Guenette) Frodine and 3 grandchildren: Sarah Marie Aiko Lovinggood, Britton Douglas Frodine and Pare’ Renee Frodine.

It was in 1973 that he married the love of his life, Annette Louise Pidcock. She and Doug were like peas in a pod: whatever he wanted to do she was on board. His favorite hobbies were fishing, hunting deer, elk, pheasants, ducks and geese, motorcycles, watching baseball games, gambling and card games of all kinds-but most of all poker, collecting coins and guns, motorcycles, travel…did we mention motorcycles? He was a lifetime member of the NRA and taught his children and grandchildren how to shoot.

Doug became a Mason in 1966, joining the Henry M. Teller lodge in Denver. Not long after he became a Shriner, first in the Provost Guard and then later in the Noble Cycles. He went through the line of officers in both. He was the Captain of the Noble Cycles when their team won the state championship in competition in 1986.

Doug had some fabulous motorcycles during his lifetime, the last one being his prized 2005 special edition Honda Gold Wing. He and Annette went on many motorcycle trips (poker runs) with the Shrine. He LOVED fishing, travelling as far as Alaska and Costa Rica, just to fish. He was able to go fishing in Alaska many times with a group of buddies and Doug Jr. He hunted with his dad Red, Annette, Doug Jr. and his grandson Britton over the years.

His love for his family was his greatest trait. His beloved Annette passed away at 47 after a battle with breast cancer. Doug never married again after that. His parents and step-parents all depended on him greatly in their later years as he was an only child. He was fortunate enough to retire when he was in his 50s, giving him time to spend with Annette and all of his parents before they passed away.

He especially loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He loved going fishing with Doug Jr. and the grandkids. His only grandson Britton was a baseball player on his high school team and Doug went to nearly all of his games. He loved going to Rockies games with all of the family and his best friend, Bill Miller. His 3 grandchildren inherited a passion for firearms and he taught them all well. Britton has become a real hunter and has his own hunting rifle. Doug passed on his love of motorcycles to his granddaughter Sarah and she hopes to have her own motorcycle one day. His granddaughter Pare’ has become an excellent archer and wants to go into the criminal justice field when she finishes high school.

His favorite places to travel were to Las Vegas and Alaska. He took daughter Cindy on an Alaskan cruise in 2006 (she did NOT fish on that trip!) and went to Las Vegas many, many times with any combination of family members. Sometimes with his parents, Lavona and Sally, sometimes Annette, sometimes with Sheryl, sometimes with Doug and Layna. The last time was in 2011 when he had finished chemo and radiation for the lung cancer and was in remission. All of his children and grandchildren went that time together as a family.

Doug had a great many friends from all his walks of life: his fellow police officers, the Masons and Shriners, his card playing buddies, his hunting and fishing partners, his neighbors, too many to mention. He will be missed TREMENDOUSLY by his loving family.

His services are being handled by Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Sunday, August 14, 2016 from 1-4pm. Funeral Service will be Monday, August 15, 2016 at 10am in the Olinger Crown Hill Chapel of Peace, 7777 W. 29th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. Burial at Crown Hill Cemetery will follow. Donations in Doug’s honor may be made to the Shriner’s Burn Hospitals for Children at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.