Lt. Col. Douglas Arland Rekenthaler (Ret), 78, unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at his farm in Woodbine, Maryland, of heart failure. Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many across the world, Doug had been battling leukemia as well. He leaves behind a wife, four children, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Doug was born March 13, 1937, in Sioux City, Iowa, the son of Reynold Rex Rekenthaler and Laura Lill Rekenthaler. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy class of 1960, served in Vietnam during the year of the Tet Offensive, logged over 1000 hours flying C-130 aircraft, served as operations officer in India and Panama and was scientific manager and physicist in the Air Force.

Doug would earn a Master's in Astrophysics from the University of Florida and a JD from the University of West Virginia. He held several patents and, after retirement from the Air Force, founded and served as CEO of several international high-technology companies.

A memorial service and interment [took] place at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, September 2, at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs . . . . In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Doug's name to the Cancer Support Foundation, 8268 Academy Rd., Ellicott City, Md. 20143. Please visit the web site at cancersupportfoundation.org.