Douglas A. Fastenau of Sutherland, Nebraska died unexpectedly on Friday, April 2, 2021, at the age of 68.
Doug was born in Sidney, Nebraska to Adolf and Ruth (Miller) Fastenau on August 14, 1952, and grew up in Gurley, Nebraska. After graduating from Gurley High School in 1970, Doug attended Chadron State College where he also competed on the track and field team, doing long jump and triple jump.
He earned his B.A. Degree in Education then began his teaching and
coaching career at Wilsonville High School. Doug went on to teach and
coach at Nemaha Valley in Cook then taught and coached in Sutherland.
He also taught Drivers Ed in Sutherland and many surrounding
communities. Doug earned his Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1989 and was a K-12 Guidance Counselor, teacher and coach at Wallace until retiring in 2008.
On January 25, 1975, Doug wed Christine Husmann in Sidney. They had two children, Sara and Kyle, and eventually made their home in Sutherland where they have been members of Grace Lutheran Church for nearly 40 years.
Doug was an active, healthy person. He loved to watch and participate in
all sports, especially those his kids and grandkids were involved in and
made every effort to be at all of their events and activities. He
refereed for 25 years and drove the bus for Mid-Plains girl's basketball
and Sutherland and Wallace schools. Doug loved golfing and spent
several days a week at Oregon Trail Golf Course in Sutherland. He also
enjoyed camping and skiing, both in water or snow, and could be seen
around town walking his dogs or bike riding with Chris. Doug enjoyed
biking so much that he would go along with Kyle on the BRAN (Bike Ride
Across Nebraska).
What was most important to Doug was his family. He especially loved
his grandkids and couldn't go longer than three weeks without seeing
them, they were truly the loves of his life. Doug will be missed so much.
He leaves behind his wife, Chris, of Sutherland, NE; children, Sara (Brady) O'Hare of Kearney, NE and Kyle Fastenau of Milford, NE; grandkids, Carsyn, Garrett, Rylie, Kendyl and Peyton O'Hare; mother-in-law, Myrna Hallsted of North Platte, NE; sisters-in-law, Mickey (Doug) Shepherd, of Winfield, KS, and Kellie (Tom) Blickenstaff, of Sun Lakes, AZ; and many other family members.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Adolf and Ruth Fastenau;
brother, Terry Fastenau; sister, Carol Hanneman; and father-in-law, Paul Husmann.
Cremation was chosen. Memorial service will be 10 a.m. on Thursday,
April 8, 2021, at Grace Lutheran Church in Sutherland, NE. Inurnment will follow in the Riverview Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for later designation in the Sutherland community.