Obituaries

Madison, WI/ Dixon, IL – Douglas Jay Wadsworth, age 79, passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 9, 2016. Doug was born July 11, 1936 in Dixon, Illinois to Goble and Eva (Schwab) Wadsworth. He grew up in Dixon and graduated from Dixon High School. He graduated from the University of Illinois and attended law school at the University of Texas. He practiced law in Houston before moving to Madison in 1970. He spent his career at National Guardian Life Insurance Co., serving as vice-president/general counsel.

A loving family man, Doug married Ellen Powers in 1964 and their son, Chris, was born in 1968. He was blessed with three grandsons who shared their grandfather’s love of sports and fishing. After the passing of his beloved wife in 2005, Doug found new love and life when he married Janet Alfonso in 2009. Doug loved history, he loved to read and he loved to travel, making wonderful visits to all corners of the United States and several trips to Europe as well. He also spent many wonderful winters as a snowbird, living life to the fullest with friends in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.

Doug was a lifelong outdoorsman and sports enthusiast. In his youth, he spent countless hours honing his golf skills — sometimes playing 36 holes or more in a single day. As an adult, he played golf several times a week and recorded not one, but two holes-in-one. Doug was also a passionate hunter and fisherman who was devoted to caring for the environment. Duck and turkey hunting trips and untold hours standing hip deep in trout streams were matched by time spent restoring riverbanks and teaching veterans and at-risk teens how to fly fish.

Doug was predeceased by his parents and his first wife. He is survived by his wife, Janet; his son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Maribel Wadsworth; and three grandsons — Ryan, Adam and Sean Wadsworth; also step-son, Joe Alfonso and his wife Tasha; and step-daughter, Angela Alfonso and her husband, Matt. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Lawrence and Joanne Weinreich as well as nieces Tamyra Riniker, Sonya Weinreich, LeAnn Nave and Lindsay Weinreich.

Doug was kind and generous to a fault, always seeing the best in people and treating them thusly. To meet Doug was to instantly be his friend. And his circle of friends was large — from lifelong friendships dating back to his childhood in Dixon to new friendships made in his retirement years. He treasured you all.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 7th, 2016 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 5202 Cottage Grove with Pastor Jeff Vanden Heuvel officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday. Doug loved nothing more than a good meal, so please join the family for a luncheon at the church following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to two of Doug’s favorite organizations: Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited (PO Box 45555, Madison WI 53744) or the Ruffed Grouse Society (c/o Jim Shurts, 2822 Chamberlain Ave., Madison WI 53705).

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit www.ryanfuneralservice.com