Douglas D. Rakowsky

Funeral services for Douglas D. Rakowsky, 68, of Battle Creek will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 26, 2018 , at Home for Funerals Chapel 708 Georgia Ave, Norfolk.  Home for Funerals, is in charge of arrangements.

            Doug died Tuesday, November 20, 2018, as a result of a motor vehicle accident.

            Doug Rakowsky was born, June 28, 1950, in Norfolk to Leonard and Augusta Rakowsky, and was the brother to Donna.  He grew up on the family farm in Battle Creek, where he enjoyed raising poultry and livestock.

Doug attended St. John’s Lutheran Elementary School and Battle Creek High School. He also graduated from Wayne State College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and history.

He traveled the country while working for the railroad in the 1970s.  During this time, he fell in love with barbecue in East St. Louis, where was told by his coworker to stay in the car because “You obviously aren’t from around here.” In Montana, he fell in love with the mountains, which he always called “God’s Country.” He always dreamed about retiring to a little cabin in Yak, Montana.

After his stint in the railroad, Doug worked for Battle Creek Farmers CO-OP where he delivered propane to houses throughout the tri-county area. He was always on-duty, and it wasn’t unusual to see Doug putting on his coveralls to make an after-hours fuel delivery on a cold January night.

Doug loved working with his hands, which led him to his career as a machinist at Custom Machine & Tool in Norfolk, where he fabricated custom parts for companies throughout Northeast Nebraska.

Doug loved antiquing, trying hole-in-the-wall restaurants, raising exotic birds, and of course, Husker everything. He is survived by Patricia, sons Joshua and Jacob, step-son Paul Oliver and wife Melinda, step-daughter Michelle (nee Oliver) Landvik and husband Mike, and grandchildren Jonah, Hannah, Isaac, Adam, Zephaniah and Caleb.

 Service Information