WAUWATOSA - Born to Eternal Life on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at the age of  52. Beloved husband for almost 24 years of Laura (nee Bass). Loving father of Alli, Lizzie, Maggie and Peter. Dear son of Pete and Eleanor, and brother of Barb Shears, Renee (Sam) Raisch and Margo (Myron) Shapiro.  Son-in-law of Ralph and Mary Bass. Brother-in-law of Dianne Bass, Donna (Dave) Wiener and Paul Bass. Beloved uncle to Anna, Mary, Justin, Ryan, Kimmie and Christopher.

Doug was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Toledo. He spent his grade school days at Gesu and attended St. Francis De Sales high school, where his love of soccer started. He graduated in 1987 as class president before making the trek east to Yale University–honing his social, rugby and engineering skills. A summer internship brought him to Briggs & Stratton in Wauwatosa, where he began his almost thirty-year career as an engineer, earned his Master of Electrical Engineering from MSOE and later became Director of Strategic Product Development. He was known as the guy who could take command at the “fuzzy front-end” of new and developing projects. His name can be found on many patents.

Some of Doug’s fondest memories of his early years in Milwaukee were playing, competing, touring and socializing with the Milwaukee Rugby Club. The bonds of friendship have continued years past their active days.

Doug and Laura married in 1997. His greatest love was his four children. He was an incredibly involved dad, always ready to play, teach, guide, build, coach, and so much more. He had a life-long love of learning, coaching soccer, and solving problems; a passion for cooking (especially new and different cuisines); a quick wit and a profound inner strength to battle through fifteen years of stage IV colon cancer without missing a beat. He lived humbly and with much grace, but with a fierce conviction in his beliefs. His fight began on his birthday, fifteen years ago, and ended on his birthday, surrounded by family and embraced in love.

The family is trying to wrap their heads and hearts around the loss of Doug after his heroic battle. They are comforted to know that he is now with our Heavenly Father and is truly healed. He was a fighter. He is loved and he will be missed by so many.

Visitation Wednesday, February 10, 2021 from 4:00pm until Time of Vigil Service at 8:00pm at Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, 10121 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa.  Visitation continues on Thursday, February 11, 2021 from 11:00am until Time of Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00noon at Christ King Catholic Church, 2604 N Swan Blvd., Wauwatosa.  Procession and Committal Service to follow at Wauwatosa Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to coloncancercoalition.org