Fred Beile was born in Park Ridge, Illinois to Charles and Elsie (Mau) Beile on November 20, 1931. He passed away in Crete, Nebraska on February 18, 2018 at the age of 86. Fred was a 1949 graduate of Maine East High School. He graduated from Northern Illinois State Teachers College with BS ('53) and MS in Education ('55). He married Esther Lou Doxey in 1954 and moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1956 to teach and coach track at the University of Kansas City. Their daughter Jan was born in 1956 followed by twin sons Chuck and Jim in 1958. Fred was forced to find a new coaching position when the University abruptly closed sports programs in 1961. Doane College in Crete, Nebraska hired him that fall as a physical education instructor, head cross-country coach, assistant track coach, and athletic trainer. In 1973 he became the head coach of the men's track and field team and in 1976 added the women's program. Fred retired from his "official" title of head coach in 2002 after an illustrious 41year career. Under Fred's guidance the Tigers claimed two national championships (2001-2002), three runner-up titles and 65 conference wins. He and his dedicated assistants have coached 327 All-Americans, 60 individual national champions, and 101 NAIA Scholar Athletes. In addition to the individual achievements of Doane's teams and athletes, Beile was inducted into the NAIA Track and Field Hall of Fame (1987) and awarded NAIA Coach of the Year honors on multiple occasions. The focus of Beile's coaching was always a "team" approach encouraging all his athletes to make contributions by pursuing excellence in all aspects of their lives. His honest "tell it like it is" style communicated expectations and gave encouragement for his athletes to do their best in practice, competition, and off the track. Fred was a student of history and gave perspective to the life events his athletes experienced that helped them set and achieve goals. The championship spirit his teams embodied were the natural result of his belief in hard work, dedication to duty, and the power of positive thinking. He modeled a "can do" spirit by his actions and words that left no room for making excuses. Both demanding and caring, he was the teacher and coach you came to love, appreciate and respect. Beyond the sports arena, Fred Beile was a caring father, grandfather and loving husband. He was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church serving as congregation president and adult Sunday school teacher. He loved to play golf and read biographies, Civil War history, Sherlock Holmes mysteries, and quote Rudyard Kipling. Although he was a student of American social and political history, he always read the sports page of any newspaper first. A stopwatch, tape measure, yellow legal pad, and pencil were the tools of his trade. His apparent grouchy exterior thinly veiled his warm and kind interior. He will be missed and remembered for the impact he had on all that knew him. He is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Elsie, brother Bill, and son Jim. Fred is survived by his wife Esther, daughter Jan, son Chuck, granddaughter Natalia Kolk and grandson Evan Kolk. Funeral service: 1:00pm Thursday, February 22, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Crete, Nebraska. Reception to follow at the Fred Beile Competition Arena on the campus of Doane College. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5 – 7 pm at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete is handling arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Bethlehem Lutheran Church,
Excellence in Endeavor Scholarship – Doane College,
Track and Field Enhancement Fund – Doane College, or
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Foundation.
Memories and condolences may be sent to Esther Beile, 470 Eastridge Rd., Crete, NE. 68333.
Fred's family wishes all to participate in the service; however, space at the church is limited. Doane College has been gracious to host a live stream of the service at the Field House.