Doug was born on January 20, 1962, in Grinnell, Iowa to Wilford and Agnes Hillmann Mikel. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1980. Following his education he enlisted into the U.S. Marines and served for four years. On December 30, 1988, he was married to Brenda Butler at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell. The couple operated a grain and livestock farm north of Grinnell. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and was past president of the church council. He also served on the Poweshiek County Water and Soil Conservation Board, Farm Bureau, the Elks Lodge and the Sonora Grange. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Mikel of Grinnell; three children, Brandon, Ashley and Mariah Mikel, all of Grinnell; his parents; Wilford and Agnes Mikel of Grinnell; and seven sisters, Debra Styers of Omaha, Nebraska, Laura Hague of West Des Moines, IA, Connie Weir of Grinnell, Diane Mikel of Fort Worth, Texas, Brenda Mikel of New York, New York, Amy Heil and Sara Mikel, both of Las Vegas, Nevada. He was preceded in death by one sister, Louise Mikel. Memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell or to the Grinnell High School Music Dept.