Douglas Joseph DANA

DANA, LOOTS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/27/2011 at 13:21:59

September 9, 1951 --- October 24, 2011

BELMOND, IA - Douglas Dana, 60, of Belmond died Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at his home in Belmond. Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at the Belmond-Klemme High School Gymnasium. Pastor Troy Pflibsen of Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond will officiate. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane S. in Belmond. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that memorial contributions in Douglas Dana's name be made to the Belmond Klemme Scholarship.

Douglas Joseph, the son of Joseph and Anna Loots Dana, was born Sept. 9, 1951, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. At an early age, Doug and his family moved to Belmond, where he attended school. Doug graduated from Belmond High School in 1970. He then attended Waldorf College and Wartburg College. Doug graduated from Wartburg College with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism in 1977. After college, Doug moved back to Belmond. Doug worked as the sports editor and writer for the Belmond Independent for over 26 years. But Doug was much more than just a sportswriter. Belmond-Klemme athletics were truly his passion. Doug did so much more for the students, coaches, teachers and citizens of Belmond-Klemme. Win or lose, he made people proud to wear the Belmond-Klemme Bronco Blue and Green. Dana, who lived most of his life in the Belmond area, was a fixture at most high school sporting events. He could be seen standing at the sideline and taking notes at every football game, sitting at the scoring table at home volleyball, basketball and wrestling contests, and doing the announcing at track meets and softball games. He kept records of all the high school athletic contests for many years, and could recall statistics from memory. In recent years he was the announcer at the Iowa high school girls softball all-star game in Des Moines. In 2009 he was given the Jerry Wetzel Service Award by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association. Dana was a big Belmond supporter. He volunteered to help with the Dog Days Triathlon, belonged to Gridiron, attended all the music and drama productions at the high school, was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church and attended community fundraising events of every kind. Doug was a gentle soul with a big smile and a friendly greeting.

Doug is survived by a sister, Mary Jo Dana of Iowa City; three nephews, Jeffrey and wife Jill of St. Louis, Mo.: Scott and wife Angela of Lakewood, Calif.: Kyle and wife Britni of St. Louis Park, Minn.; four-great nephews, Bryce, Colin, Jacob and Joshua; a great-niece, Hannah; and a community of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ed. Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane, Belmond, Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
October 27, 2011