Douglas J. Wahl

Douglas J. Wahl, formerly of Fairfield, IA who has resided for the past year at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, IA, where he passed away on November 13, 2025, just one day after his 76th birthday.
Doug was born on November 12, 1949, in Waterloo, IA to Roger and Margaret Schaefer Wahl. He graduated from State College High School in Cedar Falls, IA with the class of 1967. Doug went on to further his education at Hawkeye Community College, graduating in 1971 after completing the Agricultural Equipment Technology program. During his time in college, he was united in marriage to Linda Leathers. Together they became the proud parents of two children. The two later divorced but remained connected through their mutual love for the family they created together.
Doug's love for his country drew him to enlist in the Army Reserve in 1971 and transferred to the local National Guard in 1976. Doug and the family moved back to Fairfield in 1973 when he started farming with his in-laws, Ralph and Mary Helen Leathers. In 1979 he was selected to work full time active duty with the National Guard in the Operations Engineer Battalion. In 1988 he became a National Guard Recruiter and worked there until his retirement in 1995, having served 24 years.
Doug held various jobs after his retirement, including owning and operating The Noisy Goose Cafe & Wahl Crafts and Gifts, Telegroup, host and groundskeeper at the McElhinny House, security guard at Pioneer in Des Moines, and coordinator of volunteers for the National Parks Service at the St. Louis Arch. He then started his retirement in Fort Lauderdale, FL, living the RV life until moving back to Iowa with his daughter in 2015.
His legacy will be carried on by his daughter, Stacie (Jerry) Hootman of Fairfield, IA; his son, James (Shayanne) Wahl of Freeburg, MO; his brother, Tony (Karen) Wahl; his grandchildren, Alicia Hootman, Elizabeth Hootman, Christian (Delaney) Wahl, Nicholas Wahl, Alexandra Wahl (Troy Anderson), and Elise Shoemaker; and his great-grandchildren, Nora McCreedy, Charlotte Hootman, and Theodore Wahl. His memory will also be cherished by his many extended family and friends. Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Roger and Margaret Wahl, and his brother Bill, and sister-in-law Vicki Wahl.
Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 pm. Service to celebrate Douglas's life will be held the following day, Friday, November 21, 2025, at 10:30 am at the same location with Pastor Al Coffin officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Doug's honor to the Iowa Veterans Home of Marshalltown. They may be direct to Cranston Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, IA 52556.
We encourage you to celebrate the life of Douglas J. Wahl by sharing your memories, anecdotes, and photos on the memorial page that can be found at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Let us remember not only that Douglas died, but that he lived, and that his life gave us memories that are too beautiful to forget.