Douglas Edward Veum

Douglas Edward Veum died on July 9th, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee after an illness at the age of 82.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Jeanette Veum.
He leaves his wife, Rochelle and his children: Chris Veum (Heidi), Michael Veum (Nina), Maureen Grun (Jimmy), Linda Black (Lindsay d.), Bonnie Phillips (Scott). He is also survived by brother, Roger Veum (Eileen); brother, Jim Veum (Cindy d.); sister, Patty Anderson (Lonnie); and brother, Ken Veum (Annie d.), all of Minnesota.
Doug leaves his cousins Mark, Tom, and William Rosholt, Donnis Rosholt Tolle, Paul Rosholt (d.), David Rosholt, John Rosholt, and Linda Rosholt Hash. Also cousins Wayne Veum, Wanda Wall (d.), Barbara Arnold, Diane Bartelsen (d.), Susan Houghton (d.), Gordy Hall (d.), and Sandy Kopitzkes (d.). And beloved grandchildren Katie, Hannah, Will, Ryan (d.) Simone, Sydney, Edie and Yena. Also, his Great-Grandchildren Kaiden, Cecelia, Lorelie, Will, Gerard and Beckett.
Doug was a native of Minnesota who served as an officer on US Navy Ships in the Pacific and Vietnam and worked all over the U.S. and Europe but found "Heaven" in the Sunny South, making many lasting associations and friendships there in Chattanooga and Knoxville.
After Vietnam, Doug worked at Proctor and Gamble in Illinois and Saxon Paint in Chicago. He also worked in Wisconsin, San Francisco, and then Chattanooga for Gilman Paint.
Subsequently, Doug was recruited by Duron Paints in Beltsville, Maryland. Then, as Vice President of Store Operations, he and Pete Pittroff, who was Vice President of Sales, developed and built 150 Duron Stores in DC and other cities across the Eastern United States.
The last company Doug represented was Hallman Lindsay in Wisconsin before retiring to Knoxville.
When he and Rochelle retired to Knoxville, Doug was asked to host a TV talk show and interviewed numerous Knoxville Luminaries for many years.
Most important to Doug was joining First United Methodist Church with Rochelle where he served in leadership and taught Bible study and Sunday school for many years.
In Knoxville Doug and Rochelle enjoyed the Opera, the Symphony, UT classes and sports, Smokies baseball and the theatre. Especially exciting was historic sites, the Blount Mansion, home of Tennessee's first governor, and President Andrew Jackson's Hermitage in Nashville besides Graceland and Dollywood. The Cabildo Ship Reunion was a thrill when we all had a VIP tour of the Hermitage.
His favorite sports teams were the Minnesota Gophers, Minnesota Twins, Tennessee Titans, Tennessee Vols, Knoxville Smokies, Chattanooga Lookouts, and the Baltimore Orioles.
Now, Doug is enjoying bicycling in Heaven with his buddies and also having lunch with Al, Jack, Jerry, Hal, Ray, and John.
Doug was a fine man.
The family will receive friends from 12:00pm-2:00pm on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at First Church Knox (First United Methodist Church), 3316 Kingston Pike. A service will follow at 2:00pm with The Rev Caleb Pitkin officiating. Family and friends will gather on Monday, July 28, 2025, at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery (2200 E. Governor John Sevier Hwy) for a 12:30 interment service with military honors.
Memorial Gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church, 3316 Kingston Pike, Knoxville TN 37919.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.rosefuneraltn.com.