(From Parker Mortuary)Douglas H. VanTassel was born October 30, 1947 and departed this life on July 24, 2023 in his home with his family, at the age of 75 years. His parents were T.V. and Billie VanTassel. He was preceded in death by his son, Todd Van Tassel.
He is survived by his wife, Teresa; children Troy Barker, Victor VanTassel and Rebecca VanTassel Light and their children. He also has surviving, his four sisters, Paula VanTassel, Victoria Gorentz, Christine Buchanan and Patty Shilling and his nieces and nephews.
He enjoyed spending time with all of his family. In his last years Doug was challenged by cancer and Parkinson’s disease but he never lost his positive attitude or humor. Nor did it stop him from visiting the Elk’s Lodge in Joplin on a regular basis.
Douglas attended Pittsburg public schools, graduated and attended college in Ft. Scott and served in the Navy. He began working in his family’s trucking business as a young teenager, ultimately taking the helm with his wife, Teresa and continuing the business until it was sold in 1995 as a successful and continuing trucking company.
Doug and Teresa enjoyed riding motorcycles for many years. They once traveled from Kansas to Victoria Canada and then returned home through Detroit Michigan. Their favorite place to ride was the Talimena National Scenic Highway, from Mena Arkansas to Talihina Oklahoma.
Doug loved hunting, fishing, guns, and rods and reels. He always enjoyed the outdoors and spent many hours with friends and family on area lakes and rivers and beyond. He enjoyed traveling to the gulf coast for several winters to go deep sea fishing.
Douglas attended Pittsburg public schools, graduated and attended college in Ft. Scott and served in the Navy. He began working in his family’s trucking business as a young teenager, ultimately taking the helm with his wife, Teresa and continuing the business until it was sold in 1995 as a successful and continuing trucking company.
Doug and Teresa enjoyed riding motorcycles for many years. They once traveled from Kansas to Victoria Canada and then returned home through Detroit Michigan. Their favorite place to ride was the Talimena National Scenic Highway, from Mena Arkansas to Talihina Oklahoma.
Doug loved hunting, fishing, guns, and rods and reels. He always enjoyed the outdoors and spent many hours with friends and family on area lakes and rivers and beyond. He enjoyed traveling to the gulf coast for several winters to go deep sea fishing.
As a young man, Doug gained a love of flying and ultimately obtained his commercial pilot’s license, bought an airplane and enjoyed flying for many years.
Douglas will be sorely missed by all his friends and family but we know he is flying high in the great blue yonder or hunting in beautiful plains and forests or fishing in clear, bright, pristine waters.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Joplin Elk’s Lodge Christmas Basket Program, a charity Douglas always helped and admired. Joplin Elk’s Lodge #510 1802 W. 26th St., Joplin, MO 65804
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