Cover photo for Douglas Leroy Gulden's Obituary
Douglas Leroy Gulden Profile Photo
1953 Douglas 2022

Douglas Leroy Gulden

September 20, 1953 — December 31, 2022

Douglas Leroy Gulden passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones in his home in Council Bluffs, Iowa on December 31, 2022, after a long and courageous battle with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). He was 69.


Doug was born September 20, 1953, in Bertha, Minnesota to LeRoy Oscar and Idella Bernice (Moe) Gulden. Their family lived in Eagle Bend and Wegdahl, Minnesota, before moving to a farm near LaPorte City, Iowa. In 1965, they settled into their family farmhouse in rural Waterloo, Iowa. Doug graduated from Orange High School in 1971. He attended Kirkwood Community College for one year before deciding to work full-time at Hy-Vee Supermarket. This was a fortuitous decision because it led him to Council Bluffs, Iowa to open the Hy-Vee on Madison Avenue in 1979. There he met the love of his life, Tracy Ingram. She said she was first drawn to his kindness and sense of humor, but let’s not forget that he had the cutest butt at Hy-Vee. This connection resulted in more than a helpful smile in every aisle. They fell in love and were married on January 2, 1982. They raised two sons, Daniel Douglas and Andrew Michael. Doug and Tracy’s home was “the house” where all the kids’ friends felt welcome, accepted, and loved.


During their 41 years of marriage, Doug and Tracy shared many precious memories. Their love of travel took them throughout the United States and on multiple trips abroad. They shared these memories with family and their beloved “booster club” of friends. Their trips to Colorado specifically brought their family together through a shared love for nature. Their love stood out among the rest. Their sons never wondered if they were soulmates because they always knew they were. They shared an everlasting, all-time love.


As his sons grew, so did his passion for the new activities his sons loved. Doug became as well versed in the x’s and o’s of soccer, as he was in his “5, 6, 7, 8, grapevine” of show choir. In addition to supporting his sons in their chosen activities, Doug was also an avid outdoorsman. He loved to golf, ski, and most of all fish. He passed down his love of fishing to all that would participate, always letting them enjoy the fun parts like casting the line, but never making them bait the hook.


If you knew Doug, you knew love. You felt it through his actions, selfless spirit, positivity, and ability to always make you laugh. He was the first one out to carry bags when you arrived; he was the last one to lock up the concession stand at the end of the night. His legacy will be the lessons in patience, giving without expectation, and the love for your neighbor that he taught us all.


Remaining to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Tracy Gulden, sons Daniel (Sara) Gulden and Andrew (Jackson Pointon) Gulden, and grandson Leroy James “LJ” Gulden, age 23 months; parents-in-law Royce and Marjorie Ingram, who helped immensely through his illness; sisters Maureen (Don) Witte, Ilean Olson, and brother Mark (Cheryl) Gulden; brother-in-law Curtis (Anne) Ingram, and sister-in-law Susan (Mick) Wagoner.


Nieces and nephews Neil (Cynthia) Olson, Heidi (Adam) Hirschy; Tyler Gulden, Kaitlyn (Mac) Flack (expecting Riley Scott); Tiffany (Kevin) Probst, Jacquie (Grant) Noble, Crystal (Matt) Westerlin; Abby (Evan) Kruger, Jon (Amy) Ingram, Maddie (Evan) Bobrick, Alex (Joy Bessudo) McNally, Michael Ingram, Vasilisa Ingram, Julianna Ingram; Audrey (Braedyn Iwan) Wagoner, Olivia Wagoner, Claire Wagoner, and Gigi Wagoner; great-nieces and nephews William Kruger, Eleanor Bobrick, and Annabelle Ingram.


Doug was lovingly taken care of for the last eight years by Nicole Calhoun, Pam and Jim Friesen, Steve Karasek, AK Lawson, Omar Samateh, and London Williams. Countless others also helped Doug and Tracy continue to live life to the fullest. We will never be able to thank our Village enough.


He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Craig Olson.


Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.


Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 AM at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Interment is in Memorial Park Cemetery.


In lieu of flowers, donations are being collected in Doug’s memory and will be used to carry on the legacy of his generous spirit.


Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home and Crematory

1221 North 16th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

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Celebration of Life

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)

Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home and Crematory

1221 North 16th Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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