Obituary: Douglas Roy Cline

As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:

UPDATE: A graveside service for Douglas will be held on Saturday May 18, 2024, in the Lake View Cemetery section 76. Pastor Bryan Lundquist will be preforming the service.

Douglas Roy Cline age 70 passed away in Hospice on December 22, 2023. He was born on September 15, 1953, in Highland Park, Michigan.

Doug is survived by his wife Carol, married on February 25, 1978, son Kevin & Jenny (Apsey) Cline, his nephews Roy & Jeff Dashiell as well as 24 more nieces and nephews through marriage. Also survived by Helen (Lana) Heinonen, who he calls “mom”, his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Charles & YeYong Kangas, Aaron & Judy Anderson, Aaron & Julie Kangas, Stuart and Nancy Kauppila, Steven and Sue Kangas, & Wayne Kangas. Currently he has about 23 great-nieces and nephews.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents Glen and Eunice (Peura) Cline and his sister Joyce Dashiell, also preceded in death by his much-loved Aunt Effie Stromback, Carol’s Aunt Doris Kangas who he adored, and his favorite cousin and best friend, “Sid” Sedar.Doug graduated from Dondero High School in Royal Oak, MI in 1974. He went on to earn an Associates degree in Criminology from OCC. He then went to work for Rolls Battery and Electric in Royal Oak as a mechanic, Matthew Hargreaves in Royal Oak as a mechanic, Chrysler’s Lynch Road car factory as a Tool and Die Specialist, and finally McCullough INC. as a Tool and Die Specialist.

Doug lived a determined life. He had his first brain surgery at age 26. He’s had to learn to walk 3 times. Shortly after his first brain surgery, he had a near death experience where he describes going through a tunnel towards a beautiful light. A shadowy figure stepped out of the side and blocked him from reaching the light. Apparently, it was not his time.

He had a quirky sense of humor, able to tell tall tales with a straight face.

Increasingly, his balance worsened as he aged. He had many falls and was in pain much of the time. He would often say that he just wanted to be with Jesus.

He was a man of deep faith. Quite often as he did chores, he would sing Christian hymns. He would drive 40 miles one way to take his mom and aunt to church each Sunday.

After a serious fall, he was hospitalized for 3 weeks, during which time he had multiple strokes, and ended up paralyzed on his right side and unable to swallow. He did not want a feeding tube. Therapy was not an option, so the choice was made to enter Hospice. He died peacefully under the care of Hospice of the Valley in Glendale Arizona with his wife, son, favorite daughter-in-law Jenny, and cat Savannah present.

Services will be held at Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral home on January 6th 2024 in Calumet Michigan with visitation from 12 to 4 and the funeral service being at 4. Spring interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery, also in Calumet.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to SunshineService.org.Michigan arrangements were made by the Apsey Funeral Home, Deckerville, MI. where condolences may be sent to apseyfuneralhome.net