Douglas Melvin Gutsche, 67 of Hawthorne, passed away peacefully on Jan. 1. He was born in Stockton, Calif. on April 20, 1946 to his parents Melvin and Audrey Gutsche.

Douglas Melvin Gutsche

Douglas Melvin Gutsche

Douglas Melvin Gutsche, 67 of Hawthorne, passed away peacefully on Jan. 1. He was born in Stockton, Calif. on April 20, 1946 to his parents Melvin and Audrey Gutsche.

Douglas graduated from Lincoln High School in Stockton in 1964. After high school, he attended Delta College for two years. He then went to the Naval Academy during the Vietnam Era for 12 years working in a submarine as a chef overseas. After coming home, he pursued truck driving in Heffington Freight for five years.

Doug found his soul mate, Karen Gutshce, in 1983 and they were soon married, lasting in a union of 30 years. Doug moved to New Mexico in 1985 with his wife, Karen Gutsche and their children, to become a Correctional Officer in Santa Fe, N.M. for six years.

Douglas Gutsche then wanted to move closer to family, so they moved to Hawthorne in 1993.

Gutsche enjoyed arts and crafts; fishing; camping; baking and decorating cakes for family and friends; and enjoyed working on race cars. He loved to go dancing with his wife of 30 years, Karen Gutsche. Douglas was well liked in his community and would help anyone out.

Douglas was a faithful member of the Macedonia Baptist Church of Hawthorne for over three years, where he was baptized in 2012.

Douglas Gutsche is survived by his wife, Karen Gutsche of Hawthorne; daughters: Renee Pedercini of Silver Springs; Melissa Isom of Hawthorne; Nicole Greifendorff of Temecula, Calif. and son Douglas Gutsche, Jr. of Kearns, Utah. He is also survived by brothers: Steve Gutsche of Spokane, Wash.; Lance Gutsche of Pioneer, Calif. and sister Linda Simard of Wilsonville, Ore. Douglas is survived by 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren that he loved very much.

Memorial services for Douglas Melvin Gutsche will be held at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Hawthorne on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m.