Douglas N. Asche

Douglas Neil Asche entered our world on November 18^th, 1971. As the son to Neil and Mary Asche, he first landed in Mount Vernon, Washington. Besides “son”, his first title was “Little Brother Dougie” to the one he’d call “BROTHER” Greg. Doug’s next landing was in Columbus Nebraska, the place he called home. He had a wide net of friends and spent many hours on wheels throughout those years (bikes, skateboards, cars). Doug graduated from Columbus High in 1990 and attended University of Nebraska Kearney on a Regents Scholarship. He was an undeniable math whiz and flat-out smart guy. As a member of Phi Delta Theta, he surprised all his fraternity brothers by receiving the highest freshman GPA. His fun demeaner never lead on that he was crushing college. While singing Happy Birthday to America on July 4^th 1991 at Lake McConaughy, Doug met the yin to his yang, his future wife Marci. After going to Lincoln in 1993, Doug began to pursue his chosen profession, Mechanical Engineering. Marci and Doug were married shortly after he graduated in 1996, and together they arrived in Omaha. In 2001, Porter Douglas Asche was born which promoted Doug to the title of “Dad”. Kian joined in 2006, making the Douglas Asche family complete. Doug loved his boys beyond words and blessed them with his looks, smarts, and quick wit. After beginning his career practicing engineering, he found himself as a proud employee of the Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) for 18 years. Several of his accomplishments during this time were managing the project to build the first public CNG fuel station in Nebraska, helping MUD build out their SCADA system as a part of IT, and eventually becoming the Director of Maintenance in 2020. He enjoyed to jokingly remind friends that their faucets always had water when they were turned on, and he’d point out that he played a role in that. Outside of work, Doug spent most of his time enjoying his family. He was both Kian’s long time baseball coach and Porter’s biggest marching band and show choir fan. Together for 32 years and married for 28, Marci and Doug rarely were apart. They liked to joke about being together for so long and still liking each other most of the time; they’d often reminisce that when they picked each other, they definitely got it right. The big milestones in one’s life are what an obituary remembers them for, but everyday moments are what we are going to miss. Doug’s absence in the basement recliner, the bear hugs he gave his boys, and the kiss he gave his wife every day before he left for work are a few of the many things that leave a hole in our hearts. An accident took Doug’s life way too early, he departed to his heavenly home on October 29^th, 2023. However, he will live on in his boys, through organ donation, and through the memories we will cherish. We know that Doug’s final landing is filled with unlimited breakfast omelets, Mountain Dew Zero, endless greens of golf courses, and sports games where the Titans and Reds always win. We know he is sad to have left us so early, but his view from above will be better than any OLED TV and he will do everything he can to watch out for those he loves. We know he is enjoying catching up with those who preceded him in death like his dad, grandparents, stepfather Ivan, and father-in-law Gary (as well as other family and friends). Left to miss him immeasurably are his wife, Marci; sons Porter and Kian; mother Mary Groothuis; brother Greg (wife Brenda, nieces Gillian, Ava, Lydia, nephew Austin); stepsister but more of a sister Karri Busboom (nieces Kelsi and Kassi); mother-in-law Vickie; brother-in-law Adam (wife Melissa, nephews Connor and Brendan); and extended family and friends. Thank you to all who have touched Doug’s life and to all those who are helping us through this unimaginable tragedy. Memorials can be designated to the family for honoring Doug’s life at a later date.