Alan Douglas (Doug) Youra, 86, Green Bay, passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2025 due to complications from Aortobifemoral bypass surgery July 9.  I, daughter Carmen, apologize for the length and detail of my father's obituary; hopefully, you will still read to the end. "Dougie" never really did anything fast in life, nor without great detail, so this is to honor him.  Let it be a keepsake for all those, like him, who struggle with physical disabilities and who will be unable to attend his funeral.

Doug was born to Edwin and Rachel (Larsen) Youra, the second child of four children.  He was "actually" born on November 3, 1938, but an error was made on his birth certificate in the hospital, and, throughout his life, he was continually burdened with having to correct people, documents, and institutions.  He finally conceded and simply declared November 4, 1938, as his "legal" birth date.  As a funny aside, his wife (our mother) was born at the stroke of midnight, and HER parents had to pick which side of midnight was to be HER official birth date.  Mom complicated things even further by dying peacefully in the middle of the night, so Dad had to also "pick one."   So, you see, my brother and I are actually quite relieved this go-around, that Dad was granted an ACTUAL definitive and conclusive death date.

Where does one even BEGIN to honor such a great man!  One word comes to mind: "LOVE."  Love for God, love for his family, love for his parents, his siblings, his friends.  Love for his country, for service, for knowledge, and the arts.  Love for writing, a good movie, and a hard belly laugh. He used all of his talents to help others and serve his community.  When asked on his deathbed, "Dad, did you have a good life?" he widened his smile to the fullest and said, "Ohhhhhhhhh, yesssssssssssssss!"

Doug grew up in Denmark, Wisconsin where his Czech and Danish roots planted strong family values.  In school, he always boasted he could be a "jock" AND a "musician" at the same time, unlike other classmates who often chose one or the other.  He often preached to the students in Sturgeon Bay, "My knees and shoulders will eventually go bad from too many years of football and basketball, but when I'm old and gray, I'll still be able to play my music!"  Over eight decades, he maintained his contacts with Denmark schools.  Until the time of his death, he kept the database current for all Denmark High School graduates and planned scores of "Over-50" class reunions. At the beginning of each school year, he would align himself with one fifth grade student from the elementary school's Pen-pal Program, usually a boy in need of a father figure.  He would share tidbits of what it was like growing up post-Depression and educate students with his vast knowledge of WWII history.  He loved encouraging kids to take up an instrument and to write "from the heart."  More recently, he even got his surgeon's son hooked up to take lessons from one of the trombonists in our band.

In 1956, military service took him to Heidelberg, Germany.  He spent two years playing tuba in the 33rd Army Band and, once again, made lasting, lifelong friendships. Decades later, he would take his own family to all of his army band reunions which were held all over the country.  Doug and "the guys" would share their memories with us, always a highlight for Dad!  We quickly learned he could join ANY conversation, speak on ANY topic, and recall every life experience with such vivid accuracy and pristine detail.  Quite the storyteller... that is, IF he didn't have our mom in the background, spewing, "Hurry up, Doug!  Get to the point!"

Returning home from service, on April 4, 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, the one and only Shirley Mae Nelson.  While she worked and put him through school, he attended UW-Green Bay, then transferred to UW-Stevens Point, where he graduated with an English major and German minor.  "Damn good woman!" he used to say of Mom.  Doug would later use his degrees to privately tutor illiterate adults at the Literacy Counsil, teach English as a second language to the Hmong community at NWTC, and teach Bible Study at Bethel Lutheran Church.  He was quite fluent in German and delivered the emcee material for each of our AVB performances throughout our whirlwind European band tour in 2006. Many favors and projects for people would interrupt the flow of his own writing projects, but eventually he would finish a 40-year long project, writing a book, entitled "Czechmates." This past year, he was on the fast track and said something was gnawing at him to FINALLY finish his book. Perhaps a premonition?  In the hospital these past weeks, he kept saying, "Do YOU believe I actually got it done (in time)?"  This past February, he reaped the benefits of his project, and it was published!  It is out on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in e-book and soft cover. Doug was all set up with a book signing deal this fall, but unfortunately, he will have to deliver those signatures from the clouds.  Congratulations, Dad!  Well done!  So proud!  (Don't tell me the ending, anyone!  I haven't finished the last several chapters, but I promised Dad I would!)

In 1962 and 1968, Mom and Dad welcomed a daughter and a son, respectively.  They left Denmark and established new roots in Green Bay where he kept his kids a-hopping with piano lessons, baseball games, darkroom photography, trips to Florida, and summers at the family cottage.  He was such a good dad, granddad, and role model.  He never told us "how" to do something, but rather said, "Figure it out!" then carefully guided us on the side.  He took us fishing and water skiing and taught us the art of mushroom picking.  We rarely got to listen to rock-n-roll in our house, but instead were subjected to Dvorak, Chopin, and NPR. That paid off pretty good in the end!  The only way he could get us to church in the summertime was if he promised he would speed up on all the country roads so our bellies would flip-flop over the peaks and valleys.  He would routinely play cribbage and chess with us, and after about a year of practice, in the fifth grade I finally beat him in chess. He swore till his dying day, my wins were entirely legit.  In his book, there is a chapter devoted to the art of picking nightcrawlers for fishing, something he taught all of his children and grandchildren.  The father goes out with his son after dark, following a light rain, only to discover "two worms stuck together!"  Ah yes, I remember!  That was MY story in HIS book, and I learned this was just Dad's way of teaching his kids about the "birds and the bees."

Mom was an excellent home engineer, managing the bills, and teaching her children valuable life skills, while Dad was the breadwinner and worked hard, establishing many careers throughout his life! Dad's need for "change" used to drive our mother crazy, as every seven years or so, his brain would become stagnant and in need of further stimulation.  Reluctant, she faithfully and dutifully trusted and went along with every new aspiration he had.  His adventures usually culminated with success and profitability.  His professional life included: teaching computer programming at NWTC, data processing at Green Bay Packaging, working as a systems analyst at Shade Business Forms, and small private business ownership with my mother at D & S Printing Company.  They also owned and managed Renaissance Homes (a CBRF for residents with dementia) in Sturgeon Bay.  Our mother was DEFINITELY the "wind beneath his wings" in every endeavor Dad pursued.  Just about the time she would be feeling pretty fancy about being Dad's "Vice President", he would kindly remind her that she was also his "Co-Janitor"!

Retirement took him to work part-time for Medi-Van, selling their rental properties, and driving limousine.  It was Mom who suggested he get off his butt, go buy a tuba, and get back into playing again. He had played racquetball for many years, but rotator cuff surgery ended that and prompted his promise to himself of returning to his music.  He joined the Pulaski and Allouez Village Community Bands (currently AVB), became their music librarian, parts arranger, and computer whiz!  When he wasn't working on music, you would find him smoking his pipe, working on his daily crossword puzzle, fixing something, devising a slide show for the Sturgeon Bay elementary school music programs, working on someone ELSE'S computer, or fishing - on the Bay, with his brother on Big Green, or with us at Balsam Lake.  He relishes the time he caught a gigantic 36 pound 7-3/4 oz Chinook salmon in Sturgeon Bay with his big brother, Fritz, in a nearby boat, watching enviously.  Dad was just one day shy of winning a car in that fishing contest, only to be beaten out by some guy on a big charter fishing boat.  Dang!  Oh well, he had his prize mounted, and it still stands tall above the picture window at our family cottage.

One of his all-time passions was playing duplicate bridge.  Mom was a card shark, could count cards like the Dickens, and together, they were masters!  He always said, "If Mom ever divorced me, I'd STILL choose her for my bridge partner!"

In 2010 we abruptly lost Mom.  It shook all of us to the core.  Life completely changed.  Mom had been our rock, our hub, the spoke in every wheel.  After 52 years of marriage, Dad was lost.  I told him at Mom's funeral, "You need a wife, and you need one NOW!"

Ten weeks later, we were driving down the road when, out of the blue, Dad asked, "Uh.. er.. Would you mind... if I started datingggg?" ... I won't repeat what I actually said, but basically, I screamed, "Yes! Yes! Yes!  Please, please, please date!" I asked WHO he was going to ask, and his answer was, "Well, actually we've already had THREE dates."  I said, "Why the hell are you asking ME?!?!"  He explained that he and "Miss Lynn" had dated early on in high school, long BEFORE getting engaged to Mom, and... the rest is history!

Lynn, Lynn, Lynn... what would we have done without you, Dad's beloved Lynn!  It has been a wonderful 15 years, and we will be eternally grateful for your love, for making Dad so happy, and your constant companionship.  You brought out the fun and the "crazies" in "Ol Dougie."  As Dad was nearing his end, just the sound of your voice and your gentle touch would make him smile or open his eyes.  And guess what?  About a month ago, he said to me, "That Lynn; she's a damn good woman!" He loved you so!  He reiterated to me that with regard to our mom, you were his "Addition TO" and not a "Substitution FOR."  Always respectful, ever faithful, eternally grateful.  Like all of us, he had his faults, but he overcame adversities, faced his challenges head on, and asked for forgiveness. I'd say, "A damn good man!"

From there, his health spiraled downward.  He simply could not keep up, and it was one malady after another.  Check my Facebook page for the full medical report.

To Phillip, my dear brother: As kids, YOU were the one to nurture Mom or Dad when they were sick, and YOU were the one to take care of Dad after his fall in May. Your heart is bigger than Texas, and I am so happy you returned home after years and years of living in New Jersey. Hopefully, you had some quality time and got to know Dad all over again, in a whole new way!  (Too bad, though, there aren't as many pictures of YOU in the funeral slide show Dad created!  LOL!  Let's face it - you're a 2nd born!  XOX) Seriously, bro, you're the best, and I love you!

Our family is completely overwhelmed by EVERYONE'S generosity, love, and support, prior to and during this difficult time.  Your prayers, hospital visits, get-well cards, letters, emails, texts, phone calls, Facebook posts, and on and on gave us so much love and encouragement! Dad kept saying, "For meeeeeeeee?  This is all for meeeeeeee?"  If I start to thank specific individuals, I will inadvertently leave someone out: You KNOW who you are!  - Our BEST-ies, the Youra Clan, the Nelson Clan, musician friends, classmates, neighbors, bridge players, co-workers, the army clan, and on and on.  And cousins, our dear cousins in Medicine!  – thank you for your wisdom, for increasing my medical vocabulary, and encouraging my tenacious advocacy.  You supported us in some of our darkest days.

Our family wishes to thank the COUNTLESS number of medical professionals at St. Vincent Hospital for their tender loving care exhibited during Dad's seven-week hospitalization. There are some very busy, overworked and underpaid, lovely human beings on floors 1 (ER), 4 and 6 (ICU), 2 (Rehab), and 7 (General Care).  You are all angels with a life mission and a personal story of your own.

We also thank the staff at Blaney Funeral Home, Prevea Clinic, and the VA Hospitals in Green Bay, Appleton, and Milwaukee.  Dad always spoke so highly of the care he received from his Veterans hospitals.

He fought the good fight, and, in the end, he was at peace.  We were able to spend countless hours chatting and making up for lost time, sharing childhood and adult conversations we had previously been too busy to have. He played his tuba for the final time at our family reunion on August 16 and little did we know, in 12 days he would be gone.  Don't be sad, folks.  However you knew him, there was the same resounding response to our family, "Oh, he was SUCH a nice man!"  There is nothing but blessings!  It is exactly as it should be. Please pray for those who have NOT had 86 years with their fathers. I thank all of you for being on this journey.   This is my final tribute to "Dougie" for a life well-lived!

We are totally at peace with the fact that we will probably NEVER know what truly went wrong during and following that surgery which resulted in the one in a gazillion chance of paralysis and subsequent injuries!   Dad never blamed God or a specific individual for the unfortunate situation he was in.  He was the eternal optimist and always said, "Some days you're the statue, and some days you're the pigeon."  Either way, I know he won, is free from all anguish now, and received Eternal Life!

Doug is survived by two children, Carmen and Phillip Youra; two grandchildren, Adam and Alex Youra; brothers Kenwood and Garrett Youra; significant other, Lynn (Fricke) Hennes; sisters-in-law, Janice (Moen) Youra, Doris (Dexheimer) Nelson; brother-in-law, Dale Nelson; brothers and sisters-in-law, Antoinette (Toni) Lawson, Clifford and Lois Kane, several first cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Mae (Nelson) Youra; his parents, Eddie and Rachel Youra; parents-in-law, Howard and Alice Nelson; brother, Fredric (Fritz) Youra; sisters-in-law, Brenda (Williams) Youra, Ann (Lemke) Nelson, Patti (Brown) Youra; brothers-in-law, William (Willie) Nelson, William (Bill) Lawson, and four first cousins.

Friends and family may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., Green Bay, Wisconsin, from 4 PM to 8 PM on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.  Visitation will continue at Blaney Funeral Home from 9 AM to 10 AM on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.  The funeral and celebration will begin at 10 AM at Blaney Funeral Home with music by Danen Kane, Mike Draney, and The New Dixie Ramblers. Burial with military honors will take place at Fort Howard Memorial Park, 1350 N. Military Ave. Please join us to further celebrate Doug's great life! To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

Donations may be made to the "A. Douglas Youra - Memorial Fund" or "AVB Community Band" (but first, you must promise you will come to one of our concerts!)  A portion of the Memorial Fund donation will go towards the purchase of special "propping" pillows designed specifically for patients suffering from pressure ulcers and spinal cord injuries.  Thank you!