Douglas Harold Slechta 1937 - 2016

MELIA, SLECHTA, HIGA

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/18/2016 at 20:52:17

Sioux City Journal
2 May 2016

SIOUX CITY | Douglas Harold Slechta, 78, of Sioux City passed away peacefully Friday, April 29, 2016, at his residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at the funeral home. Online condolences may be given at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Douglas was born Nov. 28, 1937, on the family farm in Deloit, Iowa, the son of J. Harold and Audrey L. (Melia) Slechta. Doug attended Iowa State University and while in Ames, he worked for John Deere.

Doug enlisted in the United States Army and was a member of the First Special Forces Group in Vietnam. He spent seven years working overseas in the civilian services. While serving overseas, he met the love of his life, Takako Higa. The couple returned to Sioux City and were married on Nov. 21, 1971.

Doug joined the family insurance business in 1971, and then in 1983, he started his own rental property business. Doug was an avid reader and enjoyed music, the outdoors, hunting, and fishing. He and Takako also loved to travel. Doug was a dedicated husband, father, and family man, and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his wife, Takako Slechta; son, Miki Slechta of Sioux City; daughter, Maro Slechta-Cummings and husband, David of Miami Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Samantha Hines, Riley and Simon Slechta, and Andrew and Thomas Cummings; sister, Carol Jolin of Sergeant Bluff; brother, Gary R. Slechta and wife, Anne of Austin, Texas; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.