Douglas Allan "Doug" Jannusch

3/31/1969 - 4/20/2025

Mystic - Douglas Allan "Doug" Jannusch, age 56, passed away suddenly April 20, 2025, at his home in Mystic. His unexpected departure has left a void in the lives of those who knew him. Doug is survived by his beloved children, twins Arianna "Ari" and Andrew "Andy" Jannusch of Groton; his mother Barbara Jannusch of Marshfield, Wis.; sister Kari Hannemann (Jannusch) of Stratford, Wis.; brother Weston Jannusch of Gillett, Wis.; half-sister Diane Kriese of Green Bay, Wis.; close companion Jennifer Pedrick of Portsmouth, R.I.; and former wife Meredith Andrews of Groton, the mother of Doug's children; along with nieces and nephews who cherished him. He is predeceased by his father Edward Jannusch.

Doug was born March 31, 1969, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Edward and Barbara (Capes) Jannusch. He grew up on his parents' hobby farm north of Stratford, Wis., developing a love of nature, adventure and running. He attended Stratford schools graduating in 1987. Throughout his school years, he became an accomplished runner which climaxed in competing in an NCAA Division One program while in college. Running continued to be an integral part of his life. Following high school, Doug joined the U.S. Marines for a six-year tour of duty and was honorably discharged in 1993.

He attended the University of California Irvine and received a degree in English. He then returned to Wisconsin, embarking on a short-lived career in information technology. Prior to accepting a commission in 2002 with the Coast Guard, he commenced hiking the Continental Divide in the Southwest. Doug was recognized for his diligence and expertise in navigation and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander. He served on several cutters sailing the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans, along with the Caribbean and the Great Lakes. Following his earning a master's degree in international policy at Elliott School of International Affairs George Washington University, he was assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, Bahamas. The pinnacle of his Coast Guard career was his final assignment as commanding officer (captain) of the Coast Guard Cutter Spar in Kodiak, Alaska, with a crew of 48 sailing over 35,000 miles over three years. He retired from the Coast Guard in 2017.

Doug and Meredith were married in 2010 in Mystic (since divorced). During his assignment in the Bahamas, the twins, Ari and Andy, were born in 2013. Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, he and his family settled in Mystic, where he worked for General Dynamics Electric Boat as the program lead for submarine construction readiness. While advancing his own business, Beacon Yacht Delivery, he pursued his creative writing and worked as an assistant program manager at Applied Physical Sciences.

Doug will be remembered for his curiosity and his zest for life and his spontaneous and often arduous adventures. His courage and self-confidence in facing life's challenges inspired those around him. Although Doug was intelligent and highly accomplished, he carried a mantle of humility. He took pleasure in being the father of Ari and Andy. Doug admirably maintained close family and social connections across great distances even with a competitive game of Sheepshead via Zoom.

A service will be held with visitation at 10 a.m. and funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stratford, Wis., followed by full military honors. A reception celebrating Doug's life will follow at Stratford Heritage Barn. Inurnment will be private at a later date.