February 5, 1942 - June 14, 2020

Douglas Kelly Wassgren, a longtime resident of Downey California, passed peacefully June 14, 2020. He fought long and hard to stay close to his beloved wife, Marge.
Doug was born Feb. 5, 1942, in Maywood, California to Joy Harold Wassgren and LeIla Maxine Nelson Wassgren. The house on 52nd street was full of brothers and sisters. He built soapbox derby cars with his father and brothers. He graduated from Bell High School in 1959 and entered the tile business under the tutelage of his brother-in-law Joe Clifton. Doug worked closely with Joe and other family members of the Clifton Tile Company for many years.
Doug was set up on a blind date with his sister-in-law’s co-worker Margaret LaVelle for a showing of the Sound of Music. The date was a success and they married Nov. 23, 1966. In 1971, son Douglas Kelly II (Douger) was born and Feb. 11, 1982, son Eric LaVelle joined the family.
Doug was a loving, kind, very compassionate and a (bit) goofy father, brother, uncle, and friend with a magnificently large heart of gold. He loved spending time with the extended Wassgren clan in Apple Valley riding motorcycles, playing Yahtzee or water skiing on Lake Perris with all of the nieces and nephews. He loved the holidays and enjoyed hosting Christmas Eve and the 4th of July at his home each year. There would always be a giant pinata to whack and enough Safe and Sane Fireworks to last well into the evening. Day trips to Oak Glen for apple season and sojourns to Hadley’s Fruit Orchard were always on the itinerary as well as many many Knott’s Friend Chicken house family dinners and the trips to Griswold’s Swedish Smorgasbord. Snoopy, Dudley Do Right, Mr. Magoo, the Muppets were always a joy to watch with his children, and many nieces and nephews. And he always had a special love for airplanes, one that his oldest son carried on by graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautics.
Doug loved with his whole heart and was the joker in nearly every photo. All of pictures of Doug were certain to include one of three elements, (1) a goofy smile or funny expression, (2) a child smiling next to him, or (3) a photo with his head tilted to or right up next to his soul mate Marge.
Doug will be deeply and profoundly missed by his family, friends and even his acquaintances. He will remain close in spirit to all those who he loved and made smile a thousand times over.
Doug is preceded in death by his mother LeIla, father Joy, nephew Gary, sister-in-law Marie, brother Lee and sister Diane. He is survived by his wife Margaret, sons Doug (Cheryl) and Eric, sister Joyce (Joe) Clifton, brother Danny (Beverly) Wassgren, Carl Wassgren and a minion of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. And too many friends to count.
His burial will be held Monday June 22. 2020 at Rose Hills. In lieu of flowers the family asks a donation be made in his name at https://ourhope.cityofhope.org/DouglasWassgren.