Douglas Aaron Kuhles September 25, 1970 - November 23, 2024
Douglas Aaron Kuhles, was born on September 25, 1970, in Syracuse, New York, and passed away on November 23, 2024, in Clive, Iowa after a long battle with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, son, uncle, and friend, whose warmth and kindness touched the lives of so many.
Doug grew up in Syracuse, New York, and then Austin, Texas. He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior during high school. Following high school, Doug enlisted in the Army and served as a combat medic in the Desert Storm War. After his service, he attended the University of Texas, El Paso. Doug met Kristi, the love of his life, while they were working at a summer camp in Upstate New York during the summer of 2000.
Doug moved to Iowa and married Kristi on August 25, 2001. They settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he began a very successful sales career. Conner was born days before their first anniversary. Kamryn and Chelsea joined their family before they relocated to Ankeny, Iowa in 2007 and later to Clive, Iowa in 2020.
Doug is survived by his beloved wife of 23 years, Kristi Kuhles, and his three children Conner, Kamryn, and Chelsea, who were the pride and joy of his life. He was a cherished son and brother to his dad, Douglas Kuhles, Sr. (Cathy), and siblings, Matt Kuhles (Stephanie), Nate Kuhles, and Jessica Taipalus, with whom he shared countless memories and a deep commitment to family. He was also deeply loved by Kristi’s parents, siblings, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Taipalus, and his grandparents.
While the last few months of his life were challenging, that was not the man we knew. It is not his legacy. He was funny, generous, and full of love for his family and friends. He leaves us grieving for a lifetime but with compassion for the daily battles he fought to stay with us for so long. He loved smoking meat, grilling, football, movies, Christmas, and anything his family was involved in. He was an avid Texas Longhorns and Pittsburgh Steelers fan. Hook ‘em! Doug will be deeply missed, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from 9:00-10:45 AM at Merle Hay Funeral Home, 4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, followed by a short service honoring everything we loved about Doug from 10:45-11:30 AM. A committal service with full military rites will be held at Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery, 34024 Veterans Memorial Dr, Adel, IA 50003 at 12:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Face the Fight, an organization committed to ending veteran suicide (wefacethefight.org) in Doug’s memory.
