Emrich, M. Douglas

M. Douglas Emrich, 89, died Saturday, April 27, 2013, at Mechanicsville Nursing and Rehab Center from congestive heart failure. Memorial services at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at First United Church of Christ, Tipton, by Pastor David Lorenzen. A family inurnment is to be held at a later date. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Fry Funeral Home in Tipton.

Online condolences may be made at .

Survivors include his wife, Betty; son, Craig S. (wife Lynn) of Marion; and daughter, Jody L. of Tipton; brothers, Ronald James and Malcom Lyle (wife Gwen) all of Tipton: and sister, Dorothy Petersen (husband Marvin) of Bella Vista, Ark.

Douglas was born Sept. 18, 1923, on the family farm near Buchanan, Iowa, the son of Antoinette Marie (Stepanek) and Marion Clifton Emrich. He was the fourth of nine children.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Horace, Clifton Jr. and William Russell; and two sisters, Ethel Gladys Harden and Neva Marie Brown.

Douglas graduated from Tipton High School in 1941. He worked for Iowa Light & Power for one year and farmed for his mother for a year after the death of his father. He then joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 as a selective volunteer. He graduated from Service School Command and was transferred to the U.S.S. Wickes, DD-578, at Hunters Point in San Francisco, Calif., for sea duty. After gunnery training, shakedown and outfitting, the crew joined their squadron for radar picket duty. He later served on the U.S.S. Klondike, AD-22 and was then sent to Minnesota to be discharged in 1946.

Douglas rejoined his faithful wife Betty (whom he married while on leave in Mechanicsville on Feb. 15, 1945). Upon discharge, he immediately continued his education at Coe College in Cedar Rapids and received his B.A. degree in January 1949. He then went to work for United Fire & Casualty of Cedar Rapids. He joined the Ohio Casualty Insurance Group as a claims supervisor in 1956. He continued his work there until retirement on Jan. 1, 1986. While pursuing his line of work he found time to do graduate study in Archaeology at the University of Iowa and obtained his Master Conservationist certification.

Douglas was a founding member of the Tipton Pistol & Rifle Club, a member of the American Legion for more than 50 years, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a past member of the Tipton Lions Club, the Tipton Public Library Board, Tipton Senior Park Board, trustee of Woodbridge Cemetery for 25 years, life member of the Cedar County Historical Society, life member (Benefactor) of the National Rifle Association, and a life member of the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association.

He was also a member of the Custer Battlefield and Museum Association;, member of The Company of Military Historians; member of the Nebraska State Historical Society, Montana State Historical Society, Wyoming State Historical Society, Museum of the Fur Trade and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation; and the Yellowstone Corral of Westerners.

Douglas had hunted extensively in Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana. He thoroughly enjoyed nature and was a Master Conservationist. He was an ardent reader and had many interests. His massive library collection attested to this.

He traveled extensively throughout the U.S.A., Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, Europe, South America, Australia and New Zealand.

Published in The Gazette April 30, 2013.