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Douglas Jay Hamilton

November 4, 1946 - April 12, 2017

Douglas Hamilton of Ankeny passed away at Mercy Hospice in Johnston on April 12th at the age of 70. He was the son of Lyle and Doris Hamilton. He graduated from Des Moines Technical High School and worked at John Deere Des Moines Works in Ankeny for 37 and ½ years. He was a volunteer with the Ankeny Fire Department for several years.

Douglas loved being with nature. He enjoyed numerous road trips with his wife Nancy, especially those in the West and his two trips to Alaska. He was an avid hunter and loved hunting pheasant and quail with his Brittany dogs. Many people benefitted from the produce grown in his vegetable gardens. He never turned down the offer to play a game of cribbage. However, his passion was fishing and he looked forward to his Canada fishing trips each year and the opportunity to teach young people to fish in his pond in Ankeny.

Family was very important to Doug and he enjoyed sharing time with his and Nancy’s many nieces and nephews. He also valued his eclectic group of friends. Doug was a great story teller whose tales amused both the younger and older generations.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Nancy Deranleau, son Darrin Tod and daughter Stefanie Hamilton, brothers David and Stephen, sisters Jean Hamilton, JoAnn Houston, Janice Bradley and Phyllis Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation or the Iowa Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association.