Douglas "Doug" Jack Thelen

Doug was born in Lansing and was raised in Portland and Mason. He attended Mason High School and graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in political science and a minor in philosophy.

After an 18-year career with Domino’s Pizza during which Doug achieved many awards including 2011 Domino’s GM of the Year for Team USA, he recently became a Field Training Manager at Steak ’n Shake, overseeing 50 stores in the Michigan/Ohio/Indiana region.

Doug’s favorite part of his job was training. It gave him the opportunity to teach self-confidence and the importance of caring about yourself, your teammates, and your work. He had high expectations and inspired others to reach their own high expectations of themselves.

As an avid sports player, Doug enjoyed baseball, basketball, and tennis in his early years. Throughout his life, he loved golf most of all. Doug was an excellent golfer and played four years on the varsity golf team in high school. He looked forward to an April golf trip to Kentucky with friends every year. Doug was also a skilled poker player, regularly winning online tournaments and enjoying Monday night poker with his friends.

Doug was an intensely loving person. He cared deeply for his family and was very close to them regardless of geographical distance. He reached out daily to talk about everything from sports to current events to personal experiences and feelings. Doug also had many lifelong friends who loved him and still do. He will be remembered for his witty humor, his deep insight, and his willingness to do anything for his friends and loved ones. We are all better people for having known Doug. We are heartbroken and we will miss him so much. No one can ever replace him.

Doug is survived by his mother Barbara Floyd; father Wayne Thelen (Carol); brother Michael Thelen (Ileen); sister Tracy Warner (Patrick); stepbrother Kirby Jones (Pam); stepbrother Jeff Chelf (Jen); and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces. Doug is also survived by his beloved companion Chloe, a good kitty who is “Daddy’s girl”.

There will not be a funeral service, but there will be celebrations of Doug’s life later in the coming months. Details of these celebrations will be updated here as they become available.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, nami.org) to support a cause that Doug cared about deeply.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.tiffanyfuneralhome.com for the Thelen family.