Douglas Lansing

Douglas D. Lansing of Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, died peacefully at his home, July 10, positioned on his couch with one foot on his coffee table, looking out at the view of Lake Pepin that he loved and in the home that he loved and helped build with his fiancee Dixie. Their life together was filled with happiness, travel and many fun gatherings with friends and family.

Douglas was born, also at home, in Pierce County, El Paso Township, in February, 1943. He completed 8 years of elementary education in the one-room Waverly school, and four years of high school at Spring Valley, graduating in 1961. He then completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. In 1966 Doug was drafted into the U.S. Army and served two years in the Medical Company at Kenner Army Hospital in Fort Lee, Virginia. His time in the Medical Company launched a pharmaceutical sales career that lasted for 20 years. That work began in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he met and married Julie Bower. They moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1968 where they lived until they divorced in1987. That year Doug moved back to Pierce County where he purchased the Waterfront Cafe in Maiden Rock. He operated the Waterfront for more than a decade, specializing in great breakfasts and custom burgers. He was committed to the community and active in its civic life. He served for many years on the Maiden Rock Village Board and as Village President. He was interested in the history of the surrounding area and had an avid interest in antiques, particularly early and rare versions of National Cash Registers. This interest fostered his small business, "Anytyme Antiques.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orvie and Annabelle [Roatch] Lansing, fiancee Dixie [Schneider] Brown, brothers-in-law Robert Sanford and Wesley Bol. He is survived by six siblings, Mary Ann Bol, Baldwin; Reta Sanford, River Falls; Peggy [Fred] Koehler, Rock Elm; Bert [Sharon] Lansing, Spring Valley; Harriet Lansing [Allan Klein], River Falls; Jane Lansing [JoAnn Haberman], River Falls; former wife Julie Bower, Vancouver, Canada; fiancee’s daughter, Dawn Boroff, Siren; many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, and valued friends and neighbors. According to Doug’s express wishes, a brief graveside service will be held at the Poplar Hill Cemetery in Rock Elm on Friday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m. Bert Lansing will officiate, along with the Maiden Rock Post #158 Honor Guard. Doug faithfully participated in Honor Guard Activities, serving as a chaplain and loyal member of his Post. Anyone wishing to send a memorial should direct it there or to a charity of the donor’s choice in Doug’s name. Following the service, friends and family will gather at The Six String Saloon in Maiden Rock.

We had not expected to have Douglas leave us this soon, but our entire family is deeply grateful for his life, his resolute self-reliance, his reflective independent thinking, his creative sense of humor and quick wit, his great cooking skills, and his deep and unwavering commitment to his family and to his country.
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