Douglas Louwagie, 60

Douglas J. Louwagie age 60 of Milroy, MN died Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the Avera-Marshall Medical Center in Marshall, MN.  Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at the St. Michaels’ Catholic Church in Milroy.  Interment will be in the St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Milroy.  The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com

Douglas Joseph Louwagie was born November 15, 1952 to Emil and Bertha (Noyes) Louwagie in Marshall, MN, Lyon County.  He grew up on a farm near Green Valley, MN and was baptized and confirmed in the catholic faith at St. Clotilde Catholic Church in Green Valley.  Doug attended Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Marshall and later Marshall High School, graduating in 1970.  He then entered the Minnesota National Guard and served from 1970 until 1976.  After high school Doug then attended Canby Vo-Tech from 1971 through 1973 for Construction Electrician. 

On October 30, 1976 Doug married Jane Meisinger at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Springfield, MN and they made their home in Milroy, MN.  Doug began working at G&R Electric in Tracy, MN in 1973 and gained his Master Electricians License.  He became a partner in G&R in 1987, purchased the business in 1995 and operated the business until his retirement in 2010.

He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy, MN and served on its parish Maintenance Board.  He also served on the Milroy Fire Department for thirty three years, and was a member of the Milroy American Legion, and the Tracy Eagles Club. Doug enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, and spending time at the lake, but what he especially loved was spending time with his children and grandchildren.  He will always be remembered by family and friends for his great work ethic and his strong spirit through his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

On Saturday, December 1, 2012 Doug died, surrounded by his loving family, at the Avera-Marshall Medical Center in Marshall, MN at the age of 60.

Doug is survived by his wife, Jane Louwagie of Milroy, MN; his mother, Bertha Louwagie of Marshall, MN; two sons, Corey (Alisa) Louwagie of Hanover, MN and Jamie (Kristina) Louwagie of St. Louis Park, MN; one daughter, Katie (Travis) Schreier of Chaska, MN; six grandchildren, Olivia, Tyler, Lucas and Samuel Louwagie and Isaac and Morgan Schreier; five brothers, Dennis (Evelyn) Louwagie and Dean (Linda) Louwagie, both of Marshall, MN, Bob (Linda) Louwagie of Wallingford, IA, Greg (Diane) Louwagie and Pat Louwagie both of Marshall, MN; two sisters, Diane (David) Hennen of Minneota, MN, and Bev (David) Peterson of Alexandria, MN; two sisters-in-law, Kathy (Duane) Haugan of New Hope, MN and Ruth (Juan) Medellin of Edina, MN; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

His father, Emil Louwagie, his in-laws, George and Lucy Meisinger, brothers-in-law, Bob Meisinger and John Cederberg, and two nephews, Eric Hennen and Grant Medellin preceded him in death.

Blessed be his memory.

Douglas West, 72

Douglas Leon West was born on December 12, 1939 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Dale and Anna West.  He was raised in Harrisburg, South Dakota and Jasper, Minnesota, before eventually moving to Garvin, where he graduated from Tracy High School in 1958, and enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He served two years on active duty in France and returned home to marry his wife, Nina Peterson, of Garvin, in 1962.  They resided in Garvin, where all three children were born and raised. 

Douglas worked for the Murray County Highway Department as a diesel mechanic prior to beginning his career with Henry’s Candy Company as a sales/route driver in 1972, serving the Southwestern Minnesota service area.  During this time he was also a Police Officer in Garvin for 15 years and member of the Garvin Fire Department where he served as Chief for several years.  In 1990, when Henry’s Candy Company moved to Alexandria, Douglas and Nina took up roots and also moved to the Alexandria Lakes area.  They began their time in Alexandria living on Lobster Lake, and eventually bought their home in Nelson.  He retired from Henry’s in 2003, after 32 years of dedicated service.  Douglas enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, playing cards, but most of all, pool, of which he was an avid player, nearly professional in his own rite.  This is one of the last pleasures he had prior to his calling home.   He was a member of many organizations throughout his lifetime, but most recently the U.S. American Legion, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Nelson Community Association.

On Monday, November 26, 2012, Douglas passed on to a better place at the age of seventy-two years. 

Douglas was preceded in death by his parents and eldest sister Rita of Lawrence, Kansas. 

Douglas is survived by his twin brother, David of Amiret, and two sisters; Jean Krueger of Garvin, and Karen Pamp of Redwood Falls; his loving wife of 50 years, Nina West of Nelson; his three children, Sheryl Gleason of San Antonio, Texas; James (Caroline) West of Saginaw, Michigan; and Paul West of Nelson; along with his seven grandchildren; Aaron Gleason of San Antonio; Benjamin, Samuel, Juliana, and Jack West, all of Saginaw; Samantha and Cole Tracy of Kremmling, Colorado; as well as many other relatives and family friends.

Memorial service were held on Friday, November 30, 2012, 2:00 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home with Rev. Lynndene Way officiating.  Military honors were by American Legion Post #87 and VFW Post #936.  Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net