Douglas D. Kloppel was born in Alliance, NE, on Oct. 8, 1951, to Duane and Madeline (Loeb) Kloppel. Doug had one sister Marilee and they grew up on ranches in Hay Springs, Wood Lake, and Bassett, NE. In 1957, the family moved to a ranch south of Winner, SD. Doug went to school and graduated from Colome High School in 1969.
Douglas married Donna Rohde in 1970 and they had three sons—Joseph, Jedediah, and Justin.
Doug served in the U.S. Navy from 1971-1975. He was stationed in San Diego, CA and NAF Atsugi, Japan and received an honorable discharge.
Doug joined the Spearfish Police Department in 1976 and received his BS degree from Black Hills State University while working full time. He retired from the Spearfish Police Department in 1996 and entered the insurance business full time and then part time.
Doug and Donna retired in 2011, traveled the US, and spent winters in Arizona City, AZ.
Doug enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, and spending time with family and friends. His heroes were his dad, his three sons, and, of course, John Wayne. He was a member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Naja Shriners, and the Western South Dakota Buckaroos. Doug was proud to be involved in the start of the Spirit of Sue Award honoring Sue Ann Big Crow at the State High School Basketball Tournaments. He was also on the Committee that created the SD Law Enforcement Memorial on the Capitol Grounds in Pierre, SD.
Doug passed away on Aug 19, 2019 at the Avera Gregory Hospital.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Doug is survived by his wife, Donna; three sons; Joseph Kloppel of Clearwater, FL, Jedediah (Andrea) Kloppel of San Diego, CA, and Justin Kloppel of Jacksonville, FL; three granddaughters, Isabella of Lincoln, NE, Sophia of Tallahassee, FL, and Olivia of San Diego, CA; one grandson, Reece Kloppel of San Diego, CA; one sister, Marilee (Tim) Anton of Pierre, SD; and a nephew Alec Anton.
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