Obituary
C. Douglas Fix, age 61, a much loved husband, father, Papa, friend, and teacher passed away Saturday, September 23, 2006 of an apparent heart attack while participating in the Lake Superior Shore Run "Race Against Tobacco" in Marquette, Michigan.
Doug was born on June 24, 1945 in Escanaba to Herbert and Audrey (Thilbeault) Fix. He attended school in Escanaba and graduated from Escanaba High School in 1963. Following high school, Doug served four years in the U.S. Army, which included two tours in Vietnam and service to the Army Security Agency. After his honorable discharge, Doug enrolled at Michigan State University and graduated High Honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971.
On August 10, 1968, Doug married Ann (Ericksen) at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Escanaba. Doug and Ann resided in Rock for ten years before moving to Lake Shore Drive in Escanaba.
Doug began teaching at Escanaba Area High School in 1971. In his early years at EAHS, Doug encouraged journalism students and supervised "The Escanaban" and the school yearbook. He founded the student publication " The Glass Hammer," contributed to "Pegasus Anthology of Student Writing and Art," and was instrumental in the district wide "Poetry Slam." Doug also advised and chaperoned for the Escanaba Snow Club. He received the "Golden Apple" award in 1995 for excellence in teaching. Doug used Harley Davidson Motorcycles to metaphorically provide symbols of freedom, life, and adventure for all of his students.
An active member of the community, Doug coached in the UP Boxing Association and was a Golden Glove fighter; coached for the Rock Women's Softball League; participated in bodybuilding and Tough Man contests; skied with the Thursday Night Ski League at Marquette Mountain; and contributed life and running stories to "Running Amuck," a publication of the UP Road Runners Club.
Hunting season for Doug included his brother-in-law Sandy, a canvas tent, and snowdrifts in Big Bay. He also took pleasure in nourishing seeds during the spring months for his organic garden. For the past eighteen years, Doug, his brother-in-law Sandy, and sons Martin and David traveled to Quetico Provincial Park in Canada for an annual fishing adventure.
During his 50th birthday year, Doug celebrated by rock climbing in Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming with his son Martin, enjoyed a Cubs game at Wrigley Field from the bleachers with his son David, and ran his first ever marathon, the LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon.
Doug's passion for running drove him to eventually qualify for the Boston Marathon, a task which took him "60 years, 3 months, 21 days, 13 hours, 54 minutes, and 41.8 seconds." Doug finished the 2006 Boston Marathon in 4:12:05.
Doug is survived by the love of his life, Ann; sons David (Rachel) Fix and Martin (Erika) Fix, both of Escanaba; granddaughters Emily, Sadie, Olivia, and Ava Fix; father Herbert Fix of Escanaba; brother Lee (Vicky) Fix of Bark River; sisters Vicki (Sandy) Schultz of Brampton, and Tina (Mark) Whitney of Escanaba; many nieces and nephews. Special friends include Bob and Barbara Weismann of Skandia, David and Jackie Gasowski of Brooklyn, New York, Satch Miketinac of Escanaba, and Mike Segorski or Escanaba.
A memorial service celebrating the life of C. Douglas Fix will be held Thursday, September 28, 2006 at the Escanaba Middle School Auditorium. Feel free to visit with family and friends from 6:00 -7:00pm; the memorial service will begin at 7:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the C. Douglas Fix Memorial Scholarship Fund.