Obituary
Doug L. Guertin
Doug L. Guertin, 63, Of La Crosse, Wisconsin passed away on July 22, 2026, after a lifelong battle with heart disease. He had a great love for family including his companions Benny, and Niko and currently Shadow and Angel.
Because he was in a military family, Doug grew up all over the United States. When he was deciding on what he wanted to be after high school, he decided that he was going into the Service also. He joined the Navy and enjoyed the travel and adventure that came with it. When his Service time was over, he decided to go home to Vermont first, then to see his Mom in Galesville Wis. on his way to California, but met a special lady named Diane and ended up cancelling the rest of his trip. He ended up marrying that special lady twelve years later at the Friendship Gardens at Riverside Park. When he passed, It was just short of their 19th anniversary.
Diane already had two grown sons, Jeff and Dan who later on had children of their own. These grandchildren all had special times with their grandpa. McKenzie, Jaelyn and Leyna had a knack of wrapping Grandpa around their finger and he would gladly oblige. Christopher and Grandpa enjoyed the same kind of music, history and military things. When Landon and Leyna came along, he enjoyed helping them pick out their Halloween pumpkins. Also, he enjoyed cooking for the whole family, especially after Diane’s Mom passed.
During his time here they enjoyed camping locally, at the Porkies in Michigan, and the Black Hills, and searching out waterfalls. They also took a special trip to Jamaica to swim with the dolphins. Now that they were both retired, they were looking forward to more travel but ran out of time. His trusty dogs Benny and Niko enjoyed all of the adventure they could possibly want chasing squirrels, taking walks, and sniffing trees. Now Diane, Shadow and Angel will carry on and continue the adventure.
He is survived by his wife, Diane, son Jeff Johnson (Michelle), son Dan Johnson, grandchildren: Brianna Kammel (Ben) and children, Andrew Fisher and Family, McKenzie Thurk (Ben), Christopher Johnson, Jaelyn Dowdy, and her older sister Josey, Landon Johnson, and Leyna Johnson, great grandchild: Angel Johnson, and mother Rose Perkins (Gary). His father Arthur Guertin proceeded him in death. He was a proud U.S. Navy Veteran and served from June 1981 thru December 1983.
Doug left the ultimate gift. He donated his heart so that new Doctors could learn about his heart disease, his eyes so that someone else could see, skin so burn victims could heal, bone for people that needed mending, and connective tissue so people can use it to support, bind, and protect other tissues and organs in the body.
We will be having a private gathering for immediate family only. No other services have been planned. Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family during this difficult time. His ashes will be scattered at a special place at a later date.
I was so sorry to hear of Doug’s passing. We worked together at River States Truck & Trailer. Doug was always eager to help me learn something new on the computer. My most sincere sympathy to Diane and all of Doug’s family.