Douglas W. ‘Doug’ Aden
January 9, 2018 at 6:24 p.m.
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He was born Aug. 9, 1926, in Chicago, to James and Jean Miller Georgeson Aden.
He graduated in 1944 from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Ill., and was a United States Navy veteran. During his enlistment he was selected to take the “Eddy” test. Ten were chosen to take the test and only two passed, Doug and a second-year student from Purdue. He was inducted in the school of Radio & Radar Technology Program.
He attended two years at Thornton Junior College, and graduated in 1951 with his B.S. degree from Iowa State University’s School of Electrical Engineering program. While in college he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, a social fraternity, and held an office for two years. He also was a member of the Iowa State Singers for three years and held the office of president. He participated in many theatrical productions, playing principal parts in “The Mikado,” “H.M.S. Pinafore” and “Angel Street.”
He was married in 1954 in Thornton, Ill., to Erlene Hansen, who preceded him in August 1998. He moved to Syracuse in the late 1970s from Tinley Park, Ill., and was married on Feb. 16, 2002, to Sheila I. Bell Bowen, who survives.
He was formerly employed at Honeywell, where he helped with the design of the electrical installation for the Prudential Building in Chicago, Royal McBee with first generation computers, and Conant Broach as a developer of computer programs in the design for broaching tools. He retired in 1992 and was a self-employed cabinet masker (following in his father’s footsteps) and attained a patent for the development of a vending machine for Wickman Co. After moving to Syracuse, he was employed for Sea Nymph and Maple Leaf Farms, introducing computer systems.
He was a member of North Webster Church of God, where he and Pastor Paul Reigel worked together to introduce video technology. He still manned the camera the first Sunday of each month until the time of his passing.
He was an avid golfer early on and participated in many company tournaments, two of which he won. In 2012 he received the Heart of Gold Award for “extraordinary acts of kindness to others” by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
He is survived by his wife, Sheila Aden, Syracuse; a daughter, Ivy (Frank) Rabe, Tulsa, Okla.; four stepsons: Brent Bowen, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Bryan Bowen, Leesburg; Derek (Danielle) Bowen, Huntsville, Ala.; and David (Rachel) Bowen, Indianapolis; five grandchildren: Jacob (Heather) Mikolajzak, Steven (Kristin) Mikolajzak, James (Abby) Mikolajzak, Andy Mikolajzak and Hannah Rabe; six stepgrandchildren: Reagan Bowen, Zachary Bowen, Brian Rabe, Megan Bowen, Matt Bowen and Anne (Jason) Cline; and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.
Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Memorial services will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home with Pastor Jeff Boyer officiating.
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Memorials to WNIT Public Television, 300 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601; or Salvation Army, 501 E. Arthur Street, Warsaw, IN 46582.
To send condolences to the family in memory of Douglas Aden, visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
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He was born Aug. 9, 1926, in Chicago, to James and Jean Miller Georgeson Aden.
He graduated in 1944 from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Ill., and was a United States Navy veteran. During his enlistment he was selected to take the “Eddy” test. Ten were chosen to take the test and only two passed, Doug and a second-year student from Purdue. He was inducted in the school of Radio & Radar Technology Program.
He attended two years at Thornton Junior College, and graduated in 1951 with his B.S. degree from Iowa State University’s School of Electrical Engineering program. While in college he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, a social fraternity, and held an office for two years. He also was a member of the Iowa State Singers for three years and held the office of president. He participated in many theatrical productions, playing principal parts in “The Mikado,” “H.M.S. Pinafore” and “Angel Street.”
He was married in 1954 in Thornton, Ill., to Erlene Hansen, who preceded him in August 1998. He moved to Syracuse in the late 1970s from Tinley Park, Ill., and was married on Feb. 16, 2002, to Sheila I. Bell Bowen, who survives.
He was formerly employed at Honeywell, where he helped with the design of the electrical installation for the Prudential Building in Chicago, Royal McBee with first generation computers, and Conant Broach as a developer of computer programs in the design for broaching tools. He retired in 1992 and was a self-employed cabinet masker (following in his father’s footsteps) and attained a patent for the development of a vending machine for Wickman Co. After moving to Syracuse, he was employed for Sea Nymph and Maple Leaf Farms, introducing computer systems.
He was a member of North Webster Church of God, where he and Pastor Paul Reigel worked together to introduce video technology. He still manned the camera the first Sunday of each month until the time of his passing.
He was an avid golfer early on and participated in many company tournaments, two of which he won. In 2012 he received the Heart of Gold Award for “extraordinary acts of kindness to others” by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
He is survived by his wife, Sheila Aden, Syracuse; a daughter, Ivy (Frank) Rabe, Tulsa, Okla.; four stepsons: Brent Bowen, Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Bryan Bowen, Leesburg; Derek (Danielle) Bowen, Huntsville, Ala.; and David (Rachel) Bowen, Indianapolis; five grandchildren: Jacob (Heather) Mikolajzak, Steven (Kristin) Mikolajzak, James (Abby) Mikolajzak, Andy Mikolajzak and Hannah Rabe; six stepgrandchildren: Reagan Bowen, Zachary Bowen, Brian Rabe, Megan Bowen, Matt Bowen and Anne (Jason) Cline; and several great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.
Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Memorial services will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday in the funeral home with Pastor Jeff Boyer officiating.
*****
Memorials to WNIT Public Television, 300 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601; or Salvation Army, 501 E. Arthur Street, Warsaw, IN 46582.
To send condolences to the family in memory of Douglas Aden, visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
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