Ronald Ainerd Dougal
Date Of Birth: 08/28/1937
Date of Death: 04/17/2026
Ronald Ainerd Dougal passed from this life on April 17, 2026. He joins his wife and life partner, Jeanne Marie Dougal, who passed away in 2016. Ron lived with deep love and devotion to his wife and family. He was a man of generosity, respect, and understanding; of kindness, strength, and calmness under pressure. Ron’s words and actions showed deep compassion, especially for those who struggled. His heart loved the mountains, forests, rivers–all of nature and the outdoors; he appreciated the wholeness of community and the necessity of civic engagement. Ron was known “as a prankster with a vendetta for squirrels.”
Beloved father of five children, Ron is grandfather of five and a great-grandfather of five. He is the oldest of five siblings, a young transplant when his parents moved from Duluth, Minnesota, and ultimately settled in Vancouver, Washington. Ron served in the National Guard and began his lifelong career in the printing industry. As a young man, he was proud to be one of the first in the region to buy a brand new, slick black Volvo; he also bought a cabin on Mt. Hood and a two-tone green runabout boat that became part of his future family’s adventures for decades.
According to family lore, it was this boat, along with Ron’s sense of humor, his sharp looks, and his overall goodness, which were key to successful courting of the respectable nurse from Portland who captured his heart on a blind date. Jeanne Marie Bleckinger and Ron chose each other in marriage in 1962, and began their life and family together.
Ron and Jeanne complemented and enhanced each other’s characters, skills, and passions; they presented a unified parental front, as their kids would grow to realize. Jeanne paused her nursing career to provide the daily care for the children and household, infusing the family with love, kindness, efficiency, responsibility, and awareness of God in everyday life. Ron supported her fully, and they established boundaries to protect, nurture, and strengthen their family with unnegotiable together times like nightly dinner, weekly Mass, and an enduring, unique Christmas Eve tradition.
Ron genuinely delighted in sharing the fun, adventure, and wonder of life with his family. When he wasn’t “talking for his health” or threatening to lock up his tool cabinet, Ron (and Jeanne) would load all the kids into the red station wagon for day trips to ocean beaches, hikes to waterfalls deep in the forest, or for a boating picnic. Or perhaps an outing to the magical longhouse of Chief Lelooska, the curious Enchanted Forest, or to boldly battle cars, crowds, and chaos to watch Ft. Vancouver fireworks from the railroad trestle.
There were also annual, week-long escapes to the primitive, exciting world of tent camping (and boating) at spectacular lakes, rivers, and parks all over Oregon and Washington.
Then were the Grand Vacations. Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Tony at Torchlight Lake in Minnesota: the first trip, car camping, in which Ron saves Jeanne and infant Shari from a hairy scary bear outside their tent in Yellowstone; the second trip by Amtrak (Ron loved trains); the third trip by car and Motel 6, with Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, Little Big Horn, and Wall Drug. California was a whirlwind extravaganza tour of theme parks, Universal Studios (Jaws!), the Redwoods, and the Trees of Mystery.
To their adult children, Ron is: “The Best Dad Ever”; “A great role model”; “A great family man and able to apologize when needed”; “a man of generosity and understanding.” They continue, saying Dad “had a softness about him in showing you how to figure things out”; “had a staunch belief that you can do anything you set your mind to”; and, along with Jeanne/Mom, “…had legendary patience and pure, unconditional love.”
Ron is survived by his children Shari, Joe, Bridget, John, and Matt; his grandchildren Emilie, Cassie, Chloe, Ben, and McKenzie; great-grandchildren Isabelle, Oliver, Theo, and Danika and Devona Garrard; and his sisters Clarine, Karen, and Christie. Ron was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne; his parents, Svea and Ainerd; and his brother, David.
A memorial service and Celebration of Ron’s quietly exuberant and rich, full life will be held at 11 a.m. PDT, on Saturday, June 13, at Spirit of Grace church in Beaverton.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org. Please consider giving the gift of life by becoming an organ donor. A pause and gentle reminder: every day offers opportunities for forgiveness and kindness–for yourself and for each other.
Memorial information:
Spirit of Grace
7400 SW Scholls Ferry Rd
Beaverton, OR 97008
If you are unable to attend in person, please join us on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3565415004?pwd=RXJNRGpaemVteE8rZ24wSFR1ejJ0UT09&omn=84789408634
Meeting ID: 356 541 5004
Passcode: 072590