Doug Otto Dahl

1947 - 2024

Doug Otto Dahl

January 7, 1947 - March 1, 2024

Sacramento, California - I have had the most wonderful life on this fabulous blue planet. My wife of 41 years, Melinda Willey, was creative in planning fabulous trips for us, and was instrumental in me becoming a Shriner, when Shriners Hospital for Children opened in 1997. We teamed on being volunteer pet therapists there for decades, with our two dogs and a cat, bringing great joy to the kids and to us, while I was also a tour guide at the hospital for 23 years. We valued being a part of this magical healing place, where all care is 100% free of charge to the families. This affiliation, got me involved in the brotherhood of Shriners with me becoming active in both the Jesters and the Wrecking Crew. I finally found a group of men with great intentions, in serving the kids, and who became my extended family with me seeing them monthly. Being an only child, I finally had brothers, for 27 years! And even as I was dying, in my hospital bed, in our lovely home in East Sac, they were by my bedside. Kid's Day, a fundraiser, I and others coordinated with the Sacramento Bee, raised nearly $11 million for the hospital over many years. We were hawking the newspaper on the street corners, the old fashioned way. My life has been cut short, due to three incurable diseases that began raising their heads on November 17th, 2023, when I awoke blind in one eye. It was a slippery slope from that day forward, and Melinda was a tenacious warrior in finding me treatment, meds, and comfort. Everyone would be so lucky, as to have an advocate like her, navigating a broken healthcare system, to exhaust all options. Around our 41st Valentine's Day this year, it became apparent I would not be surviving this plethora of diseases. Thus, we began the process of how to die with dignity, as no pain meds, and I tried ALL of them, and her search at the world's best medical facilities, all said the same, NO CURE, prepare to die. So, that's what we did, and its an amazing story with lots of magic and things coming full circle, that made my final day, on this planet, I traveled and loved, along with my wife and fur babies a sacred and peaceful experience. I will be a butterfly on the wall, at my celebration of life, being co-created by Melinda, and my Shriner brothers. If you are a friend, family member or extended family member, which includes ones with pets, provided me healthcare, or our paths crossed during my 77 years here, please come celebrate with us. And at the same time, you'll find out more of how I lived and died. Such as how me being exposed to Agent Orange, while in the Navy and Vietnam is a probable cause of at least one of my diseases, if not all three. And how I chose to use the End of Life Care Act, which Melinda advocated for at the Capitol in 2016, and then again in 2022, that assisted my dying with dignity. And how I went back to UC-Davis Medical School, nearly an hour after my death. It will be joyful, educational, and definitely a celebration. I hope to see you there, from my vantage point as a butterfly on the wall. Oh, and in lieu of flowers or donations to charity, please bring restaurant gift cards to Melinda's favorites listed below. I was the main chef in our family, and now with me not home, she's got some adjusting to do, so she'll be eating out for a while. (Panera, Cafe Bernardo, Mimi's Cafe, Chevy's, Meet & Eat, Crepe Danielle's, Ettore's, Jack's Urban Eats, Piatti's, Spaghetti Factory, Vick's Ice Cream, and Selland's on H. St.)

My, Doug Dahl's Celebration of Life is March 29th, 2024, Good Friday (National Vietnam Veteran's Day). 2-4 pm and it could go longer, I have lots to share. Ben Ali Temple 3262 Marysville Blvd. Sacramento CA 95815 (You can also mail Melinda's gift cards to this address)

Please wear the brightest color in your closet and be casual.