TOMAH - Douglas “Doug” Charles Smith, 70, of Tomah, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at his home. Doug was born on February 15, 1953, to Charles and Alice (Long) Smith at Krohn Hospital in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. He was a member of Black River Falls High School’s Graduating Class of 1972. Upon graduation, he joined the Army National Guard of Wisconsin 106th Supply and Service in Black River Falls and continued to serve for the next 23 years. On September 30, 1978, Doug wed the love of his life, LaVonne Olson, at her parent’s home. It was from this point on that their lives were intertwined forever. The couple moved to Green Bay in 1979, where Doug worked for Lunda Construction for the next few years. In 1981, he and LaVonne relocated their family to Tomah and later Doug accepted a job installing cable for Marcus Cable/Charter. In his later years, he co-owned Warrens Heating Service with partner Steve Vander Pal until Steve retired. Doug then worked at the Tomah VA as a kitchen service/maintenance member before his retirement in 2015.
Doug loved his family and spending time with family and friends on lots of adventures. As a proud lifetime member of the ABATE, he was very passionate about teaching motorcycle safety courses as an instructor, nickname Demo Doug, for 22 years. Over the years, he enjoyed running into previous students and hearing about their motorcycle adventures. He also served ABATE as Area Rep Region 7D, Chairman of the successful Region 7D Bike Show and Swap Meet for 30 years. During the summertime, he could be found riding with the Wednesday Wheeler’s motorcycle group enjoying their motto: We live to ride, we ride to eat. Doug was part of the initial Millston Labor Day Ball Games and supported that fund raiser for many years. He was also a proud member of the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201 and the Moose International Lodge #1920. He will be remembered as a loving, generous, kind, hardworking, and gentle man who knew how to whip up award winning chili and SOS breakfast. His funny “Smith” sense of humor will be missed dearly by all that knew and loved him. Doug’s gold standard goodbye “Be Nice Like Me” will echo in our hearts forever.
Doug is survived by his beloved wife, LaVonne Smith; 2 children, Brooke (Edward) Henning of Black River Falls and Derek (Danielle) Smith of Germantown; 2 grandsons, Joshua and Wesson, along with another grandson on the way; mother-in-law, Rita Olson; sisters-in-law, Deb (Tim) Frost, Bonnie Smith, Nadine Kuchar, and Micky Stapleton; brothers-in-law, Michael Wendler, Larry Olson, and Glen Olson; and lots of special friends and family.
Doug is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Alice Smith; a sister, Shawn Wendler; 3 brothers, Dwight Smith, Timothy Smith, Sheldon Smith and father-in-law Lawrence Olson.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau Street. Dennis Frost will be officiating. Family and friends are invited for a time of visitation from 4:00 P.M. till the start of the service at the funeral home.
Military Honors will be at 3:45 P.M. by the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201 at the funeral home. Online condolences can be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com. Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
