| Notes |
- Douglas P. Dachelet, 64, Allouez, died Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, following a short battle with glioblastoma; brain cancer. He was born October 1, 1951 in Green Bay to Maurice Dachelet and Mary Lou (La Plante) Dachelet. Doug was a graduate of Green Bay Southwest High School, Class of 1970.
He married Susan Gillis on July 3, 1971 at St. Agnes Church in Green Bay, and celebrated life together for more than 44 years. Douglas and Susan are charter members of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Doug helped start the first choir at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Doug worked in the automotive industry most of his life, in parts, sales, and finally as a service advisor, with Van Boxtel Ford, Yineman-Dorsch Ford, Karcz Ford, Dorsch Ford, Brennan Buick, and Peterson Ford. He also worked for Machine Service and the Ariens Company. He retired in 2013. He loved The Ford Motor Company and never owned anything but a Ford. He was always fair, honest, and ethical. Taking care of his customers was always number one, and he would never sell a product or a service that he didn't believe was right.
You could say that Doug started his singing career in South Pacific and Allegro at Southwest High School. He was a parent manager and soloed with the Green Bay Boy Choir. He sang with the Green Bay Community Chorus at UWGB; Oratorio Chorus and Friends, Chamber Choir, and the Dudley Birder Chorale at St. Norbert College. His favorite solo performances with the Chorale were The Seven Last Words of Christ, Gospel Mass, and the St. Patrick's Mass.
He played Kaspar and The Page in separate productions of Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Pamiro Opera Company, and sang in the chorus for countless other Pamiro Opera productions; played Drake the Butler in Annie at St. Norbert College; Jacey Squires in The Music Man and Sancho in Man of La Mancha with Charitable Acts; soloed with the Allouez Village Band; sang for over 15 years with the Yuletide Carolers; played Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Daddy D Productions; traveled with In-a-Box Productions; had fun with Da Tree Guys; as well as countless other performances and productions throughout the last forty-five years.
He really found his musical home the last ten years singing with his dear friend, Darren Johnson, and Daddy D Productions, where he was able to showcase so many different styles, the range of his beautiful tenor, three octave voice, and just have fun. The band and cast were truly like family to Doug and Sue.
Doug loved music, singing, enjoying nature, rides in the woods looking for deer, fishing, hunting, classic cars, racing, old movies, reading, Broadway shows, time spent with family and friends, and his short racing experience. He loved rebuilding the engine on his l964 Ford Fairlane. His friends were important to him, and he would drop everything to go and help someone. Doug was creative and artistic, and could fix or remodel anything to make it work. He loved to play and could make anything into a toy. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, his words had an impact and made a difference.
Doug loved God, who truly was the center of his life. He used the gift of his voice to praise God. He was a shy, quiet, humble, kind, gentle, patient, good, respectful, authentic, and genuine man. He never liked to be the center of attention. He loved to have fun and to laugh.
Doug and I met in chorus at Southwest High School and grew up together. He was loving and forgiving, and a wonderful husband. I was so proud of him. I am blessed to have been loved by this sweet man. We could finish each other's sentences and know what each other was thinking with just a glance. He was a trivia expert and was always quizzing me. The prize for guessing the right answer was always a new dress. We enjoyed time spent with our kids, grandkids, and friends, our cabin in Mountain, trips to visit friends, skiing in Michigan and Colorado, seeing Broadway shows in New York and Las Vegas, trips to Scotland and Ireland, or just soaking in the hot tub with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Most of all, we just enjoyed being together. He was my soulmate.
Doug's family was the most important thing to him. Doug loved his dear brother, Greg, his mom and dad, his dear Patsy, and Susie's family. He loved his kids, Paul and Laura, which he said were his "best work." As a father, he was loving, supportive, and proud of all that we accomplished. We woke many weekend mornings to classical music like Handel's Messiah cranked high. Other mornings it might be 50's or 60's. A favorite memory throughout childhood was Dad singing O Holy Night at 10 pm mass on Christmas Eve. We were always proud, as his voice brought tears and applause year after year right in the middle of mass. He was strong and courageous, having battled hairy cell leukemia for eight long years of our childhood, a battle we are so very thankful that he won, twice. We were truly blessed to have had him another 32 years. As an adult, we loved fishing and golfing with Dad, or just talking, laughing, telling stories, and bouncing one-liners back and forth until we were all crying in laughter. Dad was a walking encyclopedia and had a Masters in B.S. for those times when he didn't actually know something. He would let you know a short time later with an adorable smirk that he had just pulled one over on you…again.
He was a wonderful grandfather to his boys. He passed on to them his love of music and live performances, trains, and his sense of humor. He will never be forgotten for his original bedtime stories and songs by flashlight, taking rides to look for trains, special trips with Grandma and Grandpa, cuddling in Grandpa's chair, and the numerous shows where the boys enjoyed seeing him perform.
Doug was never confident that he had made a difference in people's lives and in this world. We believe he did, by sharing his talents and himself with all of us.
He is survived by his wife, Susan; his children and their spouses, Paul (Sara) Dachelet, Laura (Todd) McDermott, both of Grafton, WI; his grandchildren, Nicholas Dachelet, Brady and Maxwell McDermott; his brother, Greg Dachelet; mother-in-law Joan Gillis; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Julie (Tom) Blaser, John (Diane) Gillis, Steve (Nancy) Gillis, Mary Kay (Paul) Eldridge, Lori (Mike) McTaggart, Jeffrey (Shelly) Gillis, Karin (David) Morz; cousins, nieces, nephews, and many, many friends who were like family to him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Maurice Dachelet, mother, Mary Lou Dachelet, an infant sister, Mary Elizabeth Dachelet, and father-in-law, John "Jack" Gillis.
We want to thank the nurses and staff on the oncology floor at St. Vincent Hospital, where we spent much time over the past three months, as well as Dr. Mitch Winkler and Green Bay Oncology, for their loving care of Doug. We also thank our family and friends for their tremendous outpouring of love and support over the past few months. You are amazing. We would love for you to share your memories of Doug with us in writing.
Please help us celebrate Doug's life on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 2771 Oakwood Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54304, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:30 pm, with Reverend Paul Demuth officiating. Burial will be at Allouez Catholic Cemetery. Blaney Funeral Home is assisting the family. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
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1951 - 2015 (64 years)
