Douglas Lewis Wardell

Douglas Lewis Wardell, Sr. was born to Hazel Elizabeth Lockhead and Chester Louis Wardell on March 19, 1938, in Sparks, Nevada. He was the 3rd of 6 children. He had 4 sisters and 1 brother: Cathryn Elizabeth, Margaret Hope, (Doug), George Francis, Zina Louise and Verna Laurie Ann.

As a boy he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He grew up in Ogden, Utah. Two weeks into his Junior year at Ogden High School, he dropped out due to a very difficult homelife and joined the Navy in October of 1955, at age 17. He was stationed at the Navel Training Center in San Diego, California and spent time in Japan. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic. While in the Navy, he obtained his GED.

When he was in San Diego, he met and married Shirley Gatschet on September 5, 1957. The marriage produced two sons, Douglas Lewis Wardell, Jr. and David Garold Wardell.

After the Navy, he worked as an aircraft mechanic, made fuel for Minute Man Missiles, was a food broker salesman for Edward/Kaufman and later, a construction contractor. After their 20-year marriage, that chapter closed, and eventually another one began.

In 1979, he met the love of his life, Glenda Smith. They married in September 1979, in the Logan Temple. Glenda had 3 children, Marcie, Eric and Wendy and they all formed a new family. Later in the marriage, they had a son together, Michael Allen Wardell.

As a licensed contractor, he started his own construction company in May of 1980, Doug Wardell Remodeling. He loved the work. He could do repairs, finish work and all phases of construction. The family bought a home in Salem, Oregon in 1980. After 40 years, he retired in 2020, at the age of 82. At that time, they moved to Utah to be closer to their daughter’s family.

He enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, and playing games with friends. In 1986, he formed a group of “Good Ole Boys” who enjoyed the outdoors as much as he did, and had annual fishing trips. His favorite church calling was when he worked with the Young Men and served as a cook for the 3-day stake youth conferences.

He is survived by his wife Glenda; sons Douglas Jr, David and Michael; step-children Marcie, Eric and Wendy; 9 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; and sisters Laurie and Zina.

He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Services will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at the Nibley church at 1584 West 3200 South. The viewing will be held from 9:30-10:45 am, followed by the funeral at 11:00 am. Interment will be at the Millville/Nibley Cemetery.

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com