John Carroll Dougan

Jan. 14, 2021

John Carroll Dougan, 45, of Newton. died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.  A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 22 at the Christian Conference Center. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorials to John’s family (checks made payable to Linda Dougan) may be left at the funeral home or at the service.

John, the son of Murry and Dianna (Dickerson) Dougan, was born July 23, 1975, in Irving, Texas. He grew up living in both Texas and Iowa. John graduated from Richland High School in North Richland Hills, Texas and received a two-year business degree from Tarrant County Junior College. In 1998, he moved to Newton.  After meeting on New Year’s Eve in 2000, John was united in marriage with Linda Wonderlich on June 15, 2002, at the First Christian Church in Newton. For the last four years, John has worked in customer service at Associations Marketing Group, Inc. in West Des Moines. Prior to that, he had worked at Caleris, Newton Manufacturing, US Bank, Family Video and Maid-rite. John was very active in the Newton Community Theatre serving as a past board member and he also had acted and directed in countless productions. He was also a member of the First Christian Church. John loved all sports and always cheered for the “Texas” team; especially the Cowboys. He was actively involved in an online group that would meet virtually on Friday nights to discuss politics and current events. He enjoyed engaging with people on social media and could be known to stir the pot a bit here and there. John’s biggest achievements and the titles he was most proud of was that of Dad and Papa John. 

John is survived by his wife, Linda Dougan of Newton; son, Liam Dougan of Newton; step-children, Lindsey Howe of Baxter and Grant Howe of Ankeny; step-grandson, Eli Colungo; his mom, Dianna Dougan of Baxter; sister, Lisa (Brent) Holtsclaw of Baxter; sister-in-law, Christy (Caldwell) Dougan of Hurst, Texas; and niece, Annie (Dougan) Gibson of Hurst, Texas; and his long-time best friend, Paul Wood of Vichy, Mo. He was preceded in death by his father, Murry “Dale” Dougan; brother, Curtiss Dougan; maternal and paternal grandparents; his cousin and boss, Jesse Patton; and many extended family members.