Douglas Charles Aunan

AUNAN, WATSON, SMITH, LANG, PAUL, PIITTMANN

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 8/30/2019 at 12:59:24

Douglas Charles Aunan, 68, of Coralville, Iowa, died suddenly on Tuesday, August 27th at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

A memorial service will be held Monday, September 2, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. at Parkview Church, 15 Foster Road, Iowa City, where the family will greet friends from 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. Military honors will be performed by the American Legion following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Aunan family to be distributed to charities that were important to Doug.

Doug or “Big D”, as the Hawkeye license plate reads, was born February 20th, 1951 to Norman and Janet Aunan in Sioux City, Iowa. He subsequently moved to Atlantic, Iowa at the age of four. He graduated from Atlantic High School in 1969, where he excelled in football and garnered all-state recognition in golf. After high school, Doug attended the University of Iowa for two years before enlisting in the Air Force. He was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, Louisiana where he completed his training as a dental lab technician. It was in Bossier City at Airline Baptist Church that he met the love of his life, Carol Watson.
They were married January 10, 1974 in Bossier City and have been lifelong partners for 45 years. To this union three children were born: Brian, Karen, and Kristin. Doug was known for his unwavering commitment to his family. He has spent forty-two years working as a dental lab technician for the University of Iowa, retiring in May 2018. If you have a crown or bridge made in Iowa, chances are your dentist was trained under Doug Aunan’s tutelage. Much of Doug’s identity was found in his career commitment to the University. He greatly valued the many relationships he forged with students, coworkers, and faculty at the College of Dentistry.

Doug would perhaps best want to be remembered as a follower and an ambassador of Jesus Christ. Doug was kind, even-tempered, and didn’t have a bad word to say about anyone (unless you were a referee or umpire). He would want to be known, not just by the title of “Christian”, but as one who truly embodies honesty, integrity and concern for others. His primary aim in life was to model the attributes of Christ, that would someday allow him to share how meaningful and life changing his faith was.

Doug retired in May 2018 and was enthusiastically pursuing his many passions. He was an avid supporter of the Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes. He was also an avid fisherman and spearheaded over 50 trips to Ontario, Canada. He has an inventory of fishing tackle that is the envy of Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shop. He also enjoyed Thursday night dates with longtime friends the Feldick’s and Paige’s.

Doug is survived by his wife Carol Aunan of Coralville; his mother Janet Aunan of Atlantic; three children: Brian (Debbie) Aunan of Maquoketa, Karen (Adam) Smith of Coralville, Kristin Aunan of Williamsburg, and long time foster daughter Quyen Lang of Iowa City; four siblings: Tom (Sue) Aunan of Iowa City, Cathy (John) Paul of Henderson, Barb Piittmann of Hancock, and John (Monica) Aunan of Waukee. Doug also has five grandsons of whom he is enormously proud: Landon, Lincoln, Liam, John and Andy.

He was preceded in death by his father Norman Aunan and an infant sister Karen Louise.

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

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