Douglas Donald Stemm was with sons and wife at his bedside enjoying stories and memories before drifting off to sleep and passing in the night. He was born at home July 18, 1937 to Donald and Clara (Rodgers) Stemm in Menlo, Iowa (Guthrie County). Doug was baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church and graduated from Menlo High School in 1955. After graduation he enrolled in Iowa State University for one year and then transferred to the American Institute of Business for an additional two years. After receiving an Associate Degree in Business and Accounting he was employed by the Polk County Federal Savings and Loan in Des Moines Iowa. In 1959 he had the fortunate opportunity to move to St. Cloud. MN and work for his uncle, Russell Stemm in his well-established trucking transfer firm, Stemm Transfer and Storage. It was while in St. Cloud he became a member of the Minnesota National Guard and served for eight years. On June 3, 1961 he married Fritzie Marie Carlson of St. Cloud. In 1965, Doug joined Anderson Trucking Service also in St. Cloud and worked as a dispatcher and a supervisor of terminal operations. In addition to these positions he took on a sales position that put him on the road and while successful proved to him this was not for him as he missed home every night away. Doug and Fritzie had two sons, Daniel Douglas born in 1963, now living in Roseville MN and John Donald born in 1968 now living in Stillwater OK. In 1970, after a strong desire to own and run his own business they purchased the Coast to Coast Hardware Store in Windom MN. They operated the store together for fourteen years. After two expansions and an economic downturn they landed on hard times and it became necessary to close the doors on September 13, 1984. Doug after spending the fall helping former customers with the fall harvest was hired in January 1985, at Toro Manufacturing in Windom and worked almost eighteen years as a training facilitator and manufacturing supervisor. Doug retired on August 1, 2002. Doug was active and known by most during his life in Windom as a promoter of the economic and overall betterment of Windom. He served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Corporation and the Windom Hockey Board. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church, and enjoyed singing in the Men's Chorus, the Senior Choir, the Gospelaires and playing the trumpet on special occasions. Doug was known for his quick smile, his positive outlook and supportive nature. He enjoyed meeting people and making new friends. However, as Parkinsen's disease continued to impact his abilities we slowly lost him and so today he is again free from the disease and returns to his strong, optimistic and dynamic self in all our memories. His loving family includes his wife, Fritzie, sons Daniel and John, their wives Mimi and Kim and his grandchildren Christian, Jack, Andrew, Matt, Hailea, Kai and his sister Carol. His parents and brother Richard preceded him in death.