Donald Carek

August 10, 1931 - February 6, 2021

Donald Steven John Carek, M.D., 89 of Davidson, NC passed away on February 6, 2021. He was born on August 10, 1931 in Sheboygan, WI to the late Peter and Rose Gergisch Carek and was the second son in their family of 6 children. During his childhood, Don participated in numerous sports, favoring and excelling in baseball. He was best known as an outstanding student and scholar. These characteristics lead him to a career in medicine, graduating from the Marquette University School of Medicine in 1956. He initially served as a pediatrician in the US Army from 1956 to 1959 and then as a child and adolescent psychiatrist after completing a residency and fellowship at the University of Michigan. He served his patients and taught medical students, residents and fellows for over 30 years, initially as a member of the faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI and then as a faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, SC. Despite an academic career filled with numerous accomplishments and awards, Don remained a humble and caring physician. He was admired and beloved by his patients and trainees as well as the nurses, staff and colleagues with whom he worked. He retired from MUSC in 1996. Several years into retirement, he moved from Charleston, SC to Bluffton, SC and then eventually Davidson, NC. Don was involved in many activities and hobbies throughout his life. He enjoyed both participating and watching sports. Don was an avid tennis player and, along with his wife Fran, were a formidable mixed doubles team. He also enjoyed bowling and bridge. As a sports fan, his favorite teams included Marquette basketball, the Green Bay Packers football, and the Milwaukee Brewers baseball. Don was a tireless reader of books, magazines and newspapers. He used his love for literature in authoring commentaries published in local newspapers. Most of all, Don was a committed and loyal husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He married Frances Marie Schaefer on January 28, 1956 and they were together until her death in 2010. Don and Fran role-modeled a loving and caring couple who were devoted to each other. As a father, he was loved and respected by his children who found him to be a very kind and thoughtful father. He taught them to treat everyone with equal respect and dignity. He was also known to tell wonderful bedtime stories. As a grandfather, he closely monitored and took extreme pride in the activities and achievements of his grandchildren. Survivors include his children; Carla and Donald Beam, Thomas and Susan Carek, Therese Kearns and Russell Coffland, Peter and Patricia Carek, Mary Beth and Brian Barley, and Christopher Carek; siblings, Roman and Barbara; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Services will be private. Memorials may be made to: Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston 901 Orange Grove Rd. Charleston, SC 29407 James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family.