Douglas P. Wickstrom 1940-2012

WICKSTROM DEIST SCHWARZ

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/24/2012 at 21:24:28

Sioux City Journal
November 23, 2012

SIOUX CITY | Douglas P. Wickstrom, 71, of Hinton, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, after a 10-year battle with leukemia and lung cancer.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Lutheran Church, 4400 Central St., in Sioux City, with the Rev. James Travis officiating. Visitation will be 6 to 8 pm. today at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences can be directed to meyerbroschapels.com.

Doug was born on Dec. 14, 1940, in Sioux City, the oldest son of Paul and Dorothy (Deist) Wickstrom. He attended school in Kingsley, Climbing Hill, Iowa, and graduated in 1959 from Holly Springs-Hornick. He graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in history and math and a master’s in ed. psych. and guidance.

Doug married Karla Schwarz in Bloomfield, Neb., in 1967. They had two daughters, Denise (David) Bleeker and Rebecca Wickstrom.

Doug spent four and one half years in the Coast Guard and 20 years with the Air National Guard as the historian for the 185th in Sioux City. He began his teaching career at East High School in 1969. He was in the North High math department from the opening of the school until retiring at the school in 2000. Since then, he continued to substitute throughout the school system. He was a favorite of many of his students, who appreciated his bright spirit and kind heart.

Doug was an avid bicyclist, riding 23 years in RAGBRAI. He and his brother, Dennis, liked to ride their motorcycles to Sturgis, S.D., every August. He and Karla enjoyed many trips to Arizona, Branson, Mo., Las Vegas, Nev., and Washington D.C. over the years. Doug’s sense of humor was infectious, and the grin on his face told everyone how much he enjoyed life. He will be missed by many friends and family members, but the cherished memories of this much-loved man will live on forever.

Doug leaves behind his wife, Karla; brothers, Dennis (Lynda) Wickstrom of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Stan {Judy} Wickstrom of Sioux City; daughters, Denise (David) Bleeker of Pekin, Ill., and Rebecca Wickstrom of Littleton, Colo.; and two grandsons, Alexander and Matthew Bleeker.

He was preceded in death by his parents.