Douglas Leon Sheldahl

A funeral service for Douglas will be held on Friday, March 6 at 12:00 at Merle Hay Funeral Home (4400 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50310). Following the service, there will be a committal service with military honors out in the cemetery.

Douglas Leon Sheldahl was born on 12 Sep 1944 in Des Moines, IA to RB Lorn and Twyla Sheldahl. He is defined as a Christian, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Civil Engineer and Navy Seabee Combat Veteran.

Doug started flying at 14 years old, a precursor to a lifelong love of aviation. He graduated from Johnston HS, worked alongside his father RB, a homebuilder, to guide his life in construction which led him to spend countless hours on a bulldozer moving dirt which he loved.

Doug earned his degree from the University of lowa in Civil Engineering. When the draft called, he followed RB's footsteps & joined the Navy as a Seabee (Construction Battalions.) He spent time in Vietnam, Thailand, Greece, and Australia. He continued in the Navy, engineering and constructing the runway on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

After the Navy, he worked as a project engineer for Green Construction on the Prudhoe Bay pipeline in the frozen wilds of Alaska and then the Saylorville Dam back home.  Doug was a man who spent his life seeking input, reading, and constructing projects that lasted.  Doug loved to build and engineering wasn't just about fiberoptics, radio towers, or telecommunicationsthough he moved plenty of earth to lay those cables across the Midwest. Every tower he erected and every mile of cable he plowed had a singular, sacred purpose: to reach as many souls as possible for the Lord. He used his engineering technical knowledge to build cable systems to bring Christian broadcasting to communities, viewing his professional ventures as a vehicle for his true life's mission.

Beyond the blueprints and the heavy machinery, Doug was a proud, supportive father and grandfather who cherished his time with his family. Perhaps nowhere was his zest for life more evident than when he was with his brother, Eric. Together, they chased adrenaline in every form—jets, helicopters, jet cars, and jet bikes. If it had prop or jet, Doug wanted to be behind the controls. He was an avid reader, always looking for knowledge and seeking to

"construct" his next project.

Ultimately, Doug's life wasn't defined by the dirt he moved, but by the faith that moved him. His relationship with Jesus was his bedrock. It gave him hope, guided his hands, and fueled his generosity. We take comfort today knowing that his mission is complete, his project is finished, and he is finally walking with the Lord.

Doug loved his family deeply. He leaves behind his love for his son, Matthew (Carly Arnold) Sheldahl; and his daughter, Jamie (Mike) Silver and grandchildren, Pearey and Jude Silver; his brother, Eric (Mary) Sheldahl; niece Shelly Sheldahl, and nephew/great nephew, Ethan & Brody Claus; Stepchildren, Tracy Condon & Bret Blize and many dear relatives and lifelong friends.

If you were to ask Doug for one last piece of advice today, he would tell you exactly what he told so many throughout his life: "Give your life over to the Lord. Without Him, you have no hope."

His faith gave him that hope, and today, we celebrate that he is finally home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to: Midwest Food Bank AZ, 725 E Baseline Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85233.