Maurice Duane Heidel

Maurice Duane Heidel of Cary, NC suddenly passed away in his Carolina Preserve home from a suspected cardiac event on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The son of Herbert Paul and Ruth Elanor (Robbins) Heidel, Duane was born on October 8, 1935 in Omaha, Nebraska, graduated Central Senior High School in Pueblo, Co., served in the US Air Force and graduated from Towson University in Maryland. Duane’s wife of 52 years, Beth Ann (Paronto) Heidel, preceded him in death on October 18, 2017.

Duane is survived by members of Beth’s family, specifically Beth’s sister Myrna Smith of Salina, Kansas – nephew Mike Smith and wife Rhonda and great niece Joey Smith of Salina, Kansas, great niece Kerry Miles of Kansas City and great-great grand-niece, Kylie Meyers of Salina, Kansas. Duane is also survived by his extended family: Richard and Julie Adamson of Chapel Hill, NC, and their adult children, Chris (Phoenix, AZ) and Eric (US Army, Ft. Hood, TX).

Duane retired in 2000 after a successful career in various planning and strategic management roles that included Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin) and the Marriott Corporation - most of his focus was in the telecommunications field. His career took him and Beth to various locations they were able to call home: Denver (CO), Baltimore (MD), Centerville/Herndon (VA), Charlotte (NC) and Morrisville (NC) before building their retirement home in Cary, NC.

As avid NASCAR fans, Duane and Beth enjoyed traveling around the country to various races and tracks and if he wasn’t going to be home on any particular Sunday, Duane would record the races to watch afterwards. Even up to his death, Duane remained an active golfer, playing at least once a week, sometimes more frequently and the scores never got to him, he enjoyed being outside and the comradery he had with his fellow golfers. A signature tree at the 18th hole at Prestonwood Golf Course was known to the SAS organizers as “Duane’s Tree” as he faithfully served as a course marshal for the Senior PGA tournament every year for over 15 years with his folding chair in that spot.

Duane also enjoyed attending various sporting events – including season tickets to the Carolina Hurricanes and Duke Women’s basketball seasons. Duane and Beth also attended many (if not all) of Chris and Eric’s sporting events, school programs, piano recitals and fulfilled the role of grandparents to the grandkids and parents to Rick and Julie.

Duane remained very active until death in playing the stock and Forex trading markets, presiding over investor clubs, learning about new cryptocurrencies, making numerous neighborhood friends and taking long drives into the NC countryside to enjoy the beauties of life. He will be missed by all who knew him.

A viewing will be held at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Rd., Cary, NC 27511 on Tuesday, December 28 from 10am – 11:45am, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 noon at the funeral home. A graveside service with military honors will be performed at 1pm at Duane and Beth’s final resting place – Wake Memorial Park, 7002 Green Hope School Rd., Cary, NC 27519.

In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations in Duane’s memory can be made to Transitions Lifecare (a service that greatly supported Duane in Beth’s final days) – www.transitionslifecare.org/donations

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the Heidel family.