Douglas D. Sjorgren

September 30, 1929 - July 1, 2016

Douglas D. Sjogren, 86 of Fort Collins, CO, died peacefully on July 1, 2016 at a local health care facility. Douglas was born September 30, 1929 in Holdrege, NE, to Henry and Viola Sjogren and grew up on the farm near Axtell, NE. He was married to Joyce West at Belvidere, NE in 1950. After serving two years in the Army, Doug attended Kearney State College and was graduated in 1951. After college, Doug taught school in Wauneta and Odessa, NE, and farmed in Thayer County, NE. He returned to school in 1957 and received his Master’s Degree at Kearney in 1958 and then taught in the Lincoln, NE, schools. While teaching in Lincoln, he earned the Ed.D. Degree at the University of Nebraska. Doug taught at the University of Nebraska for four years and then joined the Vocational Education Department at Colorado State University in 1965. He retired from the School of Education at Colorado State University in 1988. Doug was a member of the Lutheran Church. A favorite thing to do was to go camping with his family, often accompanied by one of his three beagles, or, later, go to their cabin in Poudre Canyon to fish, hike or cross-country ski. On one mountain outing, to the Gloryhole Mine near Central City, Doug’s beagle “Red” caught the scent of a wild animal and ran after it in pursuit, with his nose to the ground. When “Red” did not immediately return, Doug began to call for him. This went on and on, as the rest of the family retreated to the car. Long after many people would surely have given up, Doug kept calling for “Red”. This continued for about an hour when “Red” finally reappeared, nose still to the ground, and was reunited with his family. Doug’s characteristic persistence winning out. Doug also enjoyed golf, reading and traveling. He volunteered for the Colorado Division of Wildlife and for the City of Fort Collins. Doug is survived by his wife, Joyce; son, Mack of Golden, CO; daughter, Terri and her husband, Sam LaTona; and two granddaughters, Brita and Alison LaTona of Fort Collins. His parents, two sisters and one brother preceded him in death. Doug’s remains have been given as an anatomical donation. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, July 15, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 916 West Prospect, Ft. Collins. Contributions in Doug’s memory may be made to the Food Bank for Larimer County, 1301 Blue Spruce, Fort Collins, CO 80524; or to Pathways Hospice, 305 Carpenter Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80525.