Douglas Michael MacNeil

Douglas Michael MacNeil, 85, of Milwaukee, WI and Ephraim, WI, passed away at his Ephraim home surrounded by his children, early Thursday morning, July 24, 2025, overlooking the peaceful waters of Eagle Harbor and the sunrise that he was greeted with each morning.

He was born in Milwaukee on August 13, 1939, the son of J. Carleton "Cog" and Antoinette (Smith) MacNeil. Doug's family owned and operated the haberdashery MacNeil & Moore located in the Pfister Hotel, where he worked while in high school. He graduated in 1957 from Milwaukee Country Day School in Whitefish Bay and went on to study Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned his bachelor's degree. There, Doug met Helen "Janey" Jane Minahan. They were married on February 20, 1965 and were blessed with 52 years of marriage. Janey preceded Doug in death on January 22, 2017.

After graduating from UW-Madison, Doug served in the military, stationed in San Francisco, for two years before returning to Milwaukee to begin a successful 40-year plus career at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance until his retirement.

Together, Doug and Janey resided in Milwaukee, Mequon, and River Hills where they raised their children and many beloved springer spaniels. Doug entrenched himself in giving back to the community that he loved through his involvement in numerous organizations including the Rotary Club (past president), the Boys & Girls Club, the Wisconsin Policy Forum (past president), the Milwaukee Ballet, St. Ann Center, Basilica of St. Josaphat, and the University School of Milwaukee.

In the mid 1970's, Doug and Janey found themselves in Door County, WI and thus began a life of summers spent indulging both, his family and his favorite pastimes including tennis, golf and endless projects.

Always one with an idea, Doug, a lover of racquet sports, saw the need for tennis courts in the county and started the Door County Tennis Club (DCTC). He left management of the club, four young children and a few dogs to Janey while he spent his summer weekdays working in Milwaukee. Later in life, Doug bought a defunct dairy farm and lovingly turned it into a gathering place for family and friends. A lifetime avid learner, he spent many hours at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek, where he took photography and painting courses, and at Björklunden attending seminars on history and international relations. And Doug was always up for a Sunday evening trip to hear live music at Fishstock.

He loved spending time in Door County with Janey, his children, and grandchildren. Doug relished dragging them out of bed early in the morning after late nights at local haunts, greeting them cheerfully with one of his favorite sayings: "If you want to hoot with the owls, you're going to soar with the eagles." And that he did.

Doug will be missed by his children, Carleton "Cog" (partner, Traci Burgard) of Baileys Harbor, Tracy (Alby) Gallun of Evanston, IL, Douglas "Michael" (Beth) MacNeil, Jr. of Milwaukee, and Amy (Devin) Wolf of Oconomowoc, and daughter-in-law, Marion (Bischoff) MacNeil of Santa Barbara, CA; grandchildren, Penn, Grace, and Charlie MacNeil, Canyon Burgard, Fritz, Lucy, Peter, Robo, and Gunnar Gallun, Reagan Freewalt, and Parker, Mac, and Gus Wolf; nieces and nephews; and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; siblings, J. Carleton "Sandy" (Ginny) MacNeil and Judith "Judy" (Peter) Zacher; siblings-in-law, Robert (Judy) Minahan and Michael Minahan; and other relatives.

Doug's life will be honored with a Mass of Christian Burial prayed at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at Stella Maris Parish-Egg Harbor site, 7710 State Highway 42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209 with Fr. Jerry Herda as celebrant. The service will be recorded (non-live) and eventually uploaded to the "Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, LLC" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CaspersonFuneralHome).

He will be laid to rest in Blossomberg Cemetery in Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek with a private committal.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at the church on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. A reception will follow Mass at Thyme Restaurant, 10339 State Highway 57, Sister Bay, WI 54234.

A memorial reception to celebrate Doug's life will also be held on Friday, September 19, 2025 from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. at the South Cultural Arts Center at St. John's on the Lake, 1840 N. Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in his name for the Peninsula School of Art (P.O. Box 304, Fish Creek, WI 54212; www.peninsulaschoolofart.app.neoncrm.com/forms/gifts-in-honor-or-memory) or the Rotary Club of Milwaukee (750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Suite 320, Milwaukee, WI 53202; www.milwaukeerotary.com/page/named-legacy-scholarships).

"Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Unity Hospice for the wonderful care of our dad during his final days. A very special thank you goes out to his in-home caregivers, Cyril Timbas, Sam Escobia, and Liza Gurdiel for all of the compassionate and dedicated care they provided over the years."

Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Sister Bay, WI is assisting the MacNeil family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Doug may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.CaspersonFuneralHome.com.

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