Douglas Allen Robert Schrad

Doug was born on August 12, 1968 and passed away on September 8, 2020. His family who are grieving his loss are Cindy Schrad, his wife; his parents, Pat and Dick Schrad; his brother and best friend, Kevin Schrad; his sister-in-law, Michelle Schrad; his nephews, Jesse, Donovan, and Collin Schrad; his maternal aunt and uncle, Mary Anne and Jim Tanner; his paternal aunts and uncles, Judy and Russ Jeffrey; Dale and Paula Schrad; Mary and Jim McCarty ; Bill and Sue Schrad; Tom and Robin Schrad; Ann and Warren Woodbury ; many cousins and multiple friends.

Doug had many interests and pursuits. His first was his love and commitment to family, friends, acquaintances, and people with whom he had chance encounters. Doug regularly reached out to others and had a strong loyalty to his family and friends. He loved to hike and when hiking up a mountain he has turned around a number of times to help a fellow struggling hiker go back down the mountain.

Doug grew up on the Mississippi River and from an early age he enjoyed fishing. Doug’s Dad described him as “the most consummate fisherman.”  He could find fish when no one else on the river or lake could. He learned how to fish from his paternal grandparents, Boots and Margaret Schrad; two people he loved dearly. His cousin, Mark, said Doug always seemed like the ringleader growing up. Not because he was the oldest, but because he was smart, had a wry sense of humor, and liked to have fun. He was always up for another round, another game, another adventure. He embraced all of it, and made you want to embrace it all, too.

Traveling internationally was one of Doug’s passions. He took a number of trips with his aunt and uncle. Doug hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. He visited Thailand and traveled to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. He toured Germany and Austria several times. He was gregarious and once made several European friends at the top of a remote Alpen mountain. He watched the World Cup with locals in a small Austrian village, taking breaks to play basketball with them. He also enjoyed snorkeling and body surfing in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Mediterranean.

Doug had excellent athletic skills. Throughout his life he played baseball, football, basketball, tennis, golf, disc golf, mud volleyball, and any other sports that were available to him. His natural athletic abilities allowed him to easily master any sport he tried. He was also an accomplished handyman, using carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and automotive skills he learned from his father, who he admired.

Music was a major part of Doug’s life; he loved listening and playing music. He and his wife often played their favorite songs for each other. In his life he played the saxophone, bassoon, flute, piano, calliope, and for fun, the kazoo. His mother and aunt loved when he played a song on the piano that his great grandmother had written.

Doug worked at a variety of jobs in his life. He drove an ice cream truck, worked on a paddle ship on the Mississippi River, worked with adolescents in a residential group home and at the Boulder County Juvenile Center. Years after working with these adolescents some of them sought him out later in life. He spent the last 10 years of his life working as a certified financial planner. He particularly enjoyed this profession because he felt he was helping others.

Doug loved all animals and seemed to have an exceptional connection with them. His mother talks about how he would befriend garter snakes at a creek by their house and then would put several of them around his neck and ride around the neighborhood on his bike with them. He adopted a duck on the Mississippi River who was very attached to him and accompanied him everywhere. He had a dog, Wheezer, and a cat named Catastrofi, for whom he had a special affection. He had a birthday party for Catastrofi when she turned 21. Most recently Doug loved his dog Toka, whose name was drawn from the Lakota Sioux word “Tokisa” which means “see you later, if not in this circle of life, then in the next.” The Lakota Sioux use this phrase in lieu of “goodbye.”  He was taught this word by Russ, a special uncle who is part Lakota Sioux and honors their traditions and life.

The most special person in Doug’s life has been his wife, Cindy. He loved her more than he had ever loved anyone. She completed his life, and their years together were full of warmth and joy.

Tokisa Doug.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Davenport Assumption High School, 1020 W Central Park Ave, Davenport, IA 52804.

Heritage Funeral & Cremation Services of Lafayette is handling cremation arrangements.

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