Douglas M. Pink

Douglas M. Pink, loving husband, father, and grandfather; successful and respected business owner; aviation enthusiast; died on Tuesday after a five month battle with glioblastoma. He was 58.

Doug, son of the late Stan and Carol Pink, grew up on a small dairy farm in Lancaster with his 6 brothers and sisters. After graduating from Lancaster High School in 1973, he went on to study and graduate with a bachelors degree in agricultural business from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Doug started his career in banking at Union Bank and Trust and later became President and Owner of Charter Fuels, the largest family owned propane company in Wisconsin. In his 25+ year career in the propane industry he more than tripled the size of Charter Fuels, originally named Haskins Gas and Oil, from 3 branch offices concentrated in the southwest corner of Wisconsin to 7 offices statewide reaching customers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Doug loved spending time with his family, whether it was ski trips to Colorado, mountain biking in the Chequamegon forest in northern Wisconsin, watching movies, fly fishing in Montana, walking the grounds of the Oshkosh air show, spending long weekends in the family cabin in Waupaca, cheering on the Badgers at Camp Randall... These are memories his family will always cherish.

Doug was always fascinated by aviation. When he was young he dreamt of being a Navy pilot coming in for approach on an aircraft carrier. Doug fulfilled his dream of flight when he became a licensed VFR/IFR certified pilot. He first flew a Piper Cherokee and grew into a Cirrus (aka Flaps). Doug took great pride in being able to fly.

Later in life Doug got back to his roots, moving back to his beloved Lancaster farmland. Oh, how he loved playing farmer, digging his culverts, riding his tractor, cross-country skiing, and admiring the serenity of the country. Doug also got back into hunting. He enjoyed telling his family stories of the deer that just barely got away...they all "barely" got away.

Doug loved and took great pride in watching his kids grow-up, get married, and start families of their own.

He was taken from us too soon. But his love and memory will live on in his wife LuAnne, three children: Jeffrey (Brenda), Matthew (Erin), and Hillary (Josh) Budworth, and his five grandchildren: Ethan, Ellie, Gavin, Lauren, and Baby Budworth. His siblings: Gail (Phil) Johnston; Greg (Frances); Denny (Jane); Julie (Gary) Beach; Jay (Emily); Patti (David) Seiler. His mother-in-law, Mary Lou Haskins and her family; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Doug will carry on in those he touched. We love you Dad!

In addition to his parents, Stan and Carol, Doug was preceded in death his father-in-law, Stanley Haskins.

Funeral services were held on Monday, September 30, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church in Lancaster with Father John Sasse and Msgr. Tom Baxter officiating. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Family and friends called on Sunday, September 29, 2013, from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church and on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. Schwartz Funeral Home & Cremation Services is serving the family. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Douglas M. Pink Memorial Fund has been established.