Douglas Neal Markillie Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Doug Markillie, 88, of Bay City, our loving, patriotic, and joyful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend went Home to be with the Lord on the morning of Thursday, March 26, 2020 at Caretel Inns - Tri Cities. Doug was born in Lawrence on September 22, 1931, the son of the late C. Neal and Grace (King) Markillie. A 1950 graduate of Bay City Central, Doug went on to proudly serve as an infantryman in Korea from 1951-1953, where he was wounded in action at Heartbreak Ridge. Doug was awarded a Purple Heart; his uniform and metals are on display at Michigan's traveling military museum in Bay City. On August 7, 1954, Doug was united in marriage to the love of his life, the former Marion Oblender. Doug completed a sheet metal engineering apprenticeship (1953-1957), earning his Journeyman's card, and retired as an engineer from K & R Sheet Metal Engineering. With an eye for detail, Doug was also a talented artist with copper and stainless steel, working on historic buildings in Bay City, including City Hall. He was "the guy" called in for jobs involving extreme heights. A faithful servant of the Lord, Doug was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. In his free time, he enjoyed fly fishing, creating dry and wet flies and fly rods, along with sharing his knowledge about Michigan's cold-river habitat. A true conservation activist, the name Douglas means "man of the dark river." Doug was also a woodworker, creating many heirlooms for family and friends. He belonged to the D.A.V., M.O.P.H., and N.R.A. Doug was a faithful patriot and was most proud of his service to the U.S. Military, along with his conservation efforts. His family was his joy. Doug's phrase of, "Love one another. Life is too short for arguments and hatred, and love the good old USA," will never be forgotten. He leaves to carry on his legacy, his devoted wife Marion and their children, Joy (Neal) Krieger, Robert (Patty) E. Markillie, Sr., and Dawn (Dennis) Maida; grandchildren, Jamie (Mike) Savage, Susan (Chad) Spychalski, Nicole (Jessie) Byerley, Robert E. (Chelsey) Markillie, Jr., Hannah Krieger, Rachel (John) McGee, Deborah Krieger, Jacqueline (Juan) Cisneros, Mary (Peter) Krieger-Alperin, Shaina Krieger, Aaron (Nicole) Hart-Danks, Alicia (Jesse) Maida, Alexander (Katie) Danks; great-grandchildren, Lexie, Jacob, Ezra, Elliana, Jesse, Zoe, Declan, Meara, Aela, Teagan, Guenevere, Oliver, Sebastian, Ellenor, Mateo, Samuel, Oskar, Joey, Anna; sisters, Ellen Wallis (and her friend, Ron Bowen, who was a wonderful friend to Doug), Dorothy (John) Kohloff, Jody (Glenn) Meyer; in-laws, Kathleen Leppek, Janet Majeske, Dorothy Nowak; special friend, Jim Comment, along with many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Doug was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Krieger; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Godfrey and Frieda Oblender; brother, Donald Markillie, and brothers-in-law, Tom Wallis, Eugene Sturm, Richard Leppek, Roy Majeske, and Frederick Nowak. Doug's family will be present to receive visitors on Friday, September 18, 2020 from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Skorupski's - Bay County, 821 N. Pine Rd., between Ridge & Center. On Saturday, September 19, 2020, Doug will be taken to Bay City State Park from 10:00 AM until the time of his 11:00 AM Memorial Ceremony. Memorial contributions may be directed to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church (committee on relief), Trout Unlimited (tu.org), or The Military Order of the Purple Heart (purpleheart.org). Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family online at www.skorupskis.com.

Douglas Neal Markillie

September 22, 1931 - March 26, 2020