Douglas R. "Doug" Garwood

Douglas “Doug” Richard Garwood, 71, South Sioux City passed away February 8, 2015 at a Sioux City hospital after a yearlong struggle with kidney cancer.    Services will be Thursday at St. Paul United Methodist Church in South Sioux City, NE. Visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday February 11th from 5 to 7 pm at  the church with a masonic service at 7 pm followed by a prayer service. Becker – Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City is in charge of the arrangements. Funeral services will be held on Thursday February 12th at 10:30 am with burial at Dakota City Cemetery. Following the service at the cemetery, there will be a lunch and gathering with the family at the American Legion Hall in South Sioux City.    Doug was born October 16, 1943, the son of H. Glenn and Olive (Crowell) Garwood, in Walthill, Nebraska. He graduated from Walthill High School and attended the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. He married Betty Graham on May 20, 1962 in Dakota City, Nebraska.    Between 1962 and 1970 Doug worked as a manager trainee for Woolworths and in the lumber business as a bookkeeper, designer of new homes, sales and lumber yard manager in Webster City, Creston and Cedar Falls Iowa and in Monticello and Elk River Minnesota. In 1970 he returned to Dakota City to farm with his father-in-law H.D. “Buttons” Graham eventually establishing G&G Farms. He served on numerous committees of several United Methodist Churches, Dakota City Volunteer Fire Department as a fireman, in the first EMT class and as Secretary-Treasurer of the Dakota Covington Rural Fire Board, Dakota-Thurston County Fair Board, ASCS Committeeman, Dakota County Planning and Zoning.    In 1999 he established Garwood Enterprises, Inc. with his son Scott. His entrepreneurial endeavors included a tree farm, real estate sales, small trucking business, sales of irrigation parts, and owner of Valentino’s in South Sioux City. His vision for diversity in his agriculture business included Cardinal Farms Greenhouse and Cardinal Farms Aquaculture-the first of its kind in Nebraska. He was a co-founder and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Siouxland Ethanol.    He served as Chairman of South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, was a member of Dakota County Economic Development, Boys & Girls Home & Family Services Boards, and Interim President of the Chamber. He was a member of South Sioux City (Nebraska) Area Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Covington Society, Northeast Nebraska Community College Foundation Board, Farm Bureau, Farmer’s Union, Kiwanis, St. Paul United Methodist Church, Omadi Lodge No. 5 A.F.&A.M., Scottish Rite, Abu Bekr Shrine, Cornhusker Shrine Club and Shrine Chanters, Laura Chapter OES.    Doug was named the 2013 Champion of Small Business by the Nebraska Business Development Center and received the Nebraska Small Business Person of the Year Award.    He is survived by his wife Betty, son Scott (Carol) of Dakota City and daughter Pamela Colwell (Luis Hernandez, Jr.) of Orange City FL, six grandsons John Swick, Braden (Lyz) Garwood, Cody Garwood, Joshua Garwood, Alec Colwell and Nathan Colwell, great grand-daughters Sydney, Jade and Samantha Swick, two brothers Judson (Shirley) Dakota Dunes SD and William Garwood (Gloria) Salt Lake City UT and two sisters LaVerna Byers Boise ID and Donna McQuistan York, Nebraska, nieces and nephews.    He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Barbara Anderson.    In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City Community Foundation, June E. Nylen Cancer Center or a charity of donor’s choice.    Fond memories are of friends and communities in which Doug had been a part. Immense pride was taken in continuing the agricultural interests which began with the family farm in 1868.