Doug Inghram, age 76, of Fennimore, died on Sunday Nov. 27, 2016 at his residence in Marion Township, rural Fennimore. Doug was born Douglas Wayne Offerle on Sept. 28, 1940 at Fort Riley, Kansas, where his father, Matthew Offerle, was stationed. His mother, Naomi, was married to his father for only a short time and then married Kenneth Inghram. Since Doug was only 2 years old, he went by the name Douglas Wayne Inghram after his step father. He even went through the national guard and Army with legal documents incorrectly listing his name as Inghram. It wasn’t until 1964 when Doug legally changed his last name to Inghram so he could get married in 1965. Doug’s life followed this unusual track the rest of his life.
When Doug was 14, he lied about his age and joined the National Guard. He often talked about the time he was given orders to guard an intersection in another Kansas town after a devastating tornado. The leaders of the National Guard forgot about him but, at 14, he kept his post for 2 full days until he was relieved of duty.
During those same years, he led a gang of young boys and men. They would rob guns out of empty houses and resell them in the basement of a store in Missouri. Doug and his gang would torment the local cops. Eventually, the cops put names and crimes together and arrested him in his high school. Doug said he could remember the quiet of the hallways as he walked past the other classrooms in handcuffs. But in jail he used his time reading a Gideon Bible he found. Along with another female inmate next to him, he gave his heart to he Lord.
Because he was underage, he did not have to go to prison and was put on probation. He fully respected his probation officer and finished his time under him well. But this put him behind a year in high school. So he was out of sync with his classmates and graduated a year late. But on the other hand, both classes claimed him because he was such a good friend to all from both graduating years.
However, he was forever scarred by the fact that his mother never came to visit him in jail.
After high school, Doug joined the Army for 4 years and was stationed in Europe. A high ranking officer liked him so much that he made Doug his driver. As a result, Doug drove him around Europe and was able to visit many countries. He made a variety of friends in the Army and throughout Europe.
After returning to the United States, Doug would say how the Lord literally pulled him out of his bed and onto his knees. Doug knew he had to get his life back together and pledged to do whatever he could to further God’s Kingdom. That was when he started reading and studying. But he didn’t choose simple books. He dug right into the hard stuff. He also enrolled in Bethel College in North Newton, a Mennonite school next to his home town. His background in school made it difficult but he started passing classes.
It was there that he met his future wife, Carol Sue Deckert. It was an unlikely match, but in June of 1965, they married. She provided some balance. Carol Sue finished her degree at Bethel and began teaching. Then Doug finished his degree. They both taught at Central Christian High School in Hutchinson, Kansas. Doug was a shop and Bible teacher. Their first and second children, Dale and Cheryl, were born during this time. The next two children, Nettie and Joel, came along during subsequent phases.
Doug always saw everything as possibilities. He moved his family from Kansas to Chicago and attended Moody Bible Institute. Meanwhile, he became involved in Messianic Ministries. He then felt the urge to become involved in business. He could envision using it as a conduit to meet people and lead them to the Lord. So he started The Steward Company. Doug was CEO while Carol Sue did paper work, which was not Doug’s forte.
Meanwhile, Doug wanted to further his education. He enrolled and took courses at the Wheaton Graduate School where he received Master’s degree in Leadership & Development.
An accident initially led into another phase of his life. When some employees could not finish a painting job, Doug jumped in to complete it. In the process of reaching an extremely high ceiling to paint, Doug damaged his neck. He ended up with cervical spinal fusion and was incapacitated for months.
Doug had served as head Elder at Blanchard Road Alliance Church. He also taught Sunday classes and led many small groups. After neck surgery, Doug began filling the pulpit for churches who were without a pastor or needed guidance. He enjoyed this role a lot. So he decided to see if there were any permanent pastorates available where he could minister as a last frontier. After some searching, he came to pastor Bethany Alliance Church in Fennimore, WI. Through 11 years of ministry, in every circumstance, Doug endeared himself to the congregation and loved them with all of his heart.
Doug became involved in the Fennimore Community also. He pioneered The Depot Exchange thrift store & collaborated to bring new businesses into Fennimore.
Doug was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009. Eventually, along with profound hearing loss, it forced him to resign from his pastorate.
Doug loved to be in the nature where he & Carol Sue lived. He loved to talk about how God loves us all. He often said it would be neat to sit down at the Great Banquet in the Sky to talk with friends and relatives who passed there ahead of us. Now he can talk and greet people to his heart’s content without pretending that he can hear them.
Doug is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carol Sue; his children Dale Wayne Inghram (Toni) in El Segundo, CA; Cheryl Sue Ravey (Michael) in Margate, Florida; Janette Kaye Langan (Patrick) in Carbondale, IL; & Joel Mark Inghram (Ames, Iowa). Also surviving are 6 grandchildren: Noah Langan, Luke Langan, Zeke Langan, Ellie Langan, Kuno Inghram, & Caz Inghram. Doug also leaves behind 2 sisters & a brother: Sue Curtis (Don), Ardete Frey (Glenn), & Monte Inghram (Elaine) as well as many nieces & nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday Dec. 1, 2016 at Bethany Alliance Church in Fennimore. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday evening Nov. 30, 2016 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church on Thursday morning. Private family burial will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be made at larsonfuneralhomes.com.