Saturday, April 30, 2011

The King of Orcs Has Passed Away

I just learned from Greg Svenson that Frederick "Fred" Paul Funk III passed away January 21, 2011. Fred Funk was part of Dave Arneson's original Blackmoor group. Not to be confused with the professional golfer, Funk played the Orc King, controlling the 10th level of the Blackmoor Dungeon. He is the first known player to have played an Orc in an RPG, but later the Half-Orc would become a popular race in D&D.

A friend of Greg Svenson since junior high school, it was Svenson who introduced Funk to Arneson's group. Later Fred Funk would also run his own Blackmoor games. Fred Funk worked as a police officer and later went into security management in Minnesota.

Frederick Funk  was born on May 12, 1950 and passed away on Friday, January 21, 2011. He was 60 years old.  Frederick was a resident of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

May he Rest in Peace.

A discussion of the memories of Fred Funk can be found here. (Comeback Inn registration required)
A discussion of Fred's World can be found here. (Comeback Inn registration required)



  1. Sad, sad news. My condolences to all.

  2. Damn. Lots of legends passing on lately. So sad.

  3. From some notes: 100 levels of furry dungeon. Orcian way plays god saves the queen played backward. Loved aardvarks.

  4. Thanks Puple! Are you a friend of Fred perhaps? We have some more talk of Fred Funki
    n this place: