Douglas Edward Kienle

1948 - 2024

Douglas Edward Kienle

August 3, 1948 - October 31, 2024

With intense sadness, the family of Doug Kienle announces his passing. His kind heart stopped beating on 10/31/24. Douglas Edward Kienle was born in August 1948 in Tillamook, OR to Milton E. Kienle Jr & Ruth V. (Wamser) Kienle. He was the 2nd oldest, born 2 years after his brother Keith, & a few minutes before his brother Mike. A little brother Scott & baby sister Mary followed. Doug spent his first years in Tillamook, above the Kienle Music Store. The family moved to Corvallis in 1954 where another Kienle Music Store began.

At Harding Elementary School, Doug made many lasting friendships. In Cub Scouts, he won an award for Best Model Car. At Highland View Junior High School, he enjoyed his wood & metal shops & art classes. Doug had a vast aptitude for all things mechanical & structural. His zeal for cars (& bargains) showed up by age 15 when he purchased his first car, a 1953 Studebaker, for just $35. While he eventually got busted, he felt great pride in his cleverness. Two enduring mottoes that got him into hot water at home his entire life were cemented: "But It Was A Really Good Deal", & "Act Now; Ask for Forgiveness Later". At Corvallis High School, Doug was a prized auto mechanics student by day & drag-racer by night. His career in the auto industry was forged when the owner of a local car dealership phoned the instructor, asking him to send over his star student to apprentice. His racecar of choice was a clunky old 1953 Ford sedan, into which Doug dropped a souped-up Buick engine with which he left a few shocked Corvette owners in the dust. Also at CHS Doug met Katherin Zimmerman. They graduated in 1967, married in 1968, welcomed daughter Kristen in 1969 & Kimberly in 1972. Doug was a loving, generous, devoted, silly family man. In the 1970's, he joined the Oregon National Guard & became Motor Pool Sargeant.

Doug landed at John & Phil's Toyota, a few years ahead of Phil. He was proud to serve as Parts Manager for 46 years, winning many awards from Toyota, notably National Parts Manager of the Year many times. He put J&P on the international stage repeatedly with dealership awards & an article in People magazine. His crowning claim to fame was an ingenious adaptation to many thousands of Tacoma air conditioning kits that enabled them to be used in many more model years. In doing so, he saved a ton of material from entering landfills nationwide, earned himself the nickname "Ice Man", and is still keeping 1990's die-hard Tacoma owners cool. Toyota rewarded Doug & Kathy with many memorable trips in the U.S., Mexico & the Bahamas. The short German guy with the black hair and mustache behind the Parts Counter at John & Phil's Toyota thrived on connecting with customers, vendors, & co-workers alike.

In the 1980's, Doug took to making stained glass windows. His artistic pride & joy was a stunning lighthouse that he created for his father. He also designed a fantastically detailed rendition of the Benton County Courthouse for the bi-centennial celebration, hand-etching each brick, the lady liberty on top & stamping the time at 8:03 (his date of birth). The County & State Fairs sent him home with blue ribbons.

Doug was a perfectionistic 'serial remodeler'; he left everything substantially better than he found it. Many relied on Doug's ingenuity, marveling at his outside-the-box solutions. Doug was less detail-oriented when it came to hiding the jelly-donut stains on his shirts. Another motto that got him into trouble? "Life is uncertain; eat dessert first."

Doug appreciated the value of old, storied items, searching garage & estate sales for old train memorabilia, antiques and railroad pocket watches. Notorious was his love for 1960-era Volvo 544's.

Doug remembered vivid details about people's lives, their stories, their families. He had a keen ability to connect with nearly everyone he encountered. He was never too busy to lend a hand, a tool, or an idea to your recent dilemma. He is remembered as a kind, gentle, slightly mischievous, tenacious man, long on patience, creativity, generosity, corniness and resourcefulness. The voids he leaves are deep.

He is survived by wife Kathy, daughters Kristy & Kimberly, sons-in-law Rick & Justin, grandchildren Nicholas, Bryce & Hailey, his brothers Keith, Mike & Scott, his sister Mary, many nieces & nephews, brothers-& sisters-in law, countless friends both old & new.

Please visit https://www.demossdurdan.com/obituaries/ to leave condolences, learn more about livestreaming the event, and later about how to obtain a link to watch the recorded version of Doug's Celebration of Life after the event has concluded.

A celebration of Doug's deeply meaningful life & lasting legacy is planned for Saturday 12/7/24 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Historic Old School House on the grounds of the Children's Farm Home at 4455 NE Hwy 20 in Corvallis. We are eager to hear your memories of this quirky guy & hope that you will arrive with a written story to leave or share aloud. If inclement weather or sickness prevents you from attending at the last minute, would you be so kind as to send your words through the above website?

Doug's service will be recorded for those who are unable to join us; a livestream may also be available. Please reach out to the family through the DeMoss-Durdan Funeral Home webpage, where you can leave a story behind. Don't forget to tell us how you knew him.