Doug Vavra

June 23, 1943 - July 5, 2022

Age 79

     Douglas C. Vavra, 79, of Laurel, passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at his home and under the care of St. Croix Hospice.

     Graveside services for Doug will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Marshalltown.  Visitation will take place prior to the service, at 10:00 a.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed to St. Croix Hospice.  For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Doug and his family.

    Douglas C. Vavra was born on June 23, 1943 in Marshalltown to Charles E. and Marjorie (Mann) Vavra.  Charles died during the war, and Doug never knew his biological father. Marjorie later married Leo A. Burns.  Doug graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1961 and then went to trade school in Milford, Nebraska to obtain a degree in tool and die.  On May 9, 1964, Doug was united in marriage to Carolyn Matya at the Laurel United Methodist Church. Together, Doug and Carolyn lived in Marshalltown after marriage and moved to the Laurel area in 1966.  Doug had been employed with Fisher Controls in Marshalltown from 1963 until his retirement in 2003.  He enjoyed riding motorcycles and rebuilding them as well as rebuilding cars.  He was a “professional” daredevil and built a drag bike he raced in Humboldt.  Doug also enjoyed entertaining family and friends at his bonfires with a wiener roast and keg.  He will be remembered for mowing his yard in a circle and telling his “joke of the day”.  Above all else, Doug enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren and was the world’s most loving father.

     Doug is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carolyn.  Children: Carrie Simatovich of Palo, Iowa, Dami (Marty) Havran of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Scott Simatovich of State Center, Iowa.  Grandchildren: Sadie (Riley Claude) Simatovich, Samie (Logan) Fitchett, Hawken Grimes and Adisyn Wahley.  He is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Everly and Oaklyn.

     Doug is preceded in death by his parents: Charles and Marjorie; step-father, Leo and a daughter in infancy, Angie.
 

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