Douglas "Doug" Stucky

Douglas “Doug” Stucky, 65, passed away on November 2, 2026.

If you ever had the privilege of being in a room with Doug Stucky, chances are you left feeling a little more special than when you arrived. Doug had a remarkable gift for making people feel seen, welcomed, and genuinely important. He never let someone sit on the sidelines for long, especially the wallflowers or those new to the family. He took the time to learn what mattered to people, remembered the little things, and found meaningful ways to connect with everyone he met. To Doug, relationships were never incidental; they were the very best part of life.

A lifelong Wichitan, Doug grew up swimming competitively with the Wichita Swim Club, graduated from Heights High School and received his bachelor’s degree through the University of Kansas. His love of the water stayed with him throughout his life, whether he was spending summer afternoons in the pool or finding his happy place on a beach somewhere.

In 1985, Doug met the love of his life, Jenalee. Just four short months into dating, while walking through the mall, Doug casually suggested, “Maybe we should go look at rings.” And just like that, they knew. For more than 40 years, Doug spent every day loving, laughing, and building a life with his best friend. Their partnership was, and always will be, the kind of love story everyone hopes to find. Doug’s advice to all new couples was to remember that you are a team.

In January of 1990, his twin daughters were born. Doug spent every moment of every day making sure his family was loved and provided for. His girls were his pride and joy. While looking alike they were very different and he made sure to always have individual special connections with them whether it was on individual “date” nights as preteens or connecting with them over their individual swim strokes or even as adults connection with Lauren as an educator and with Brittany as a business professional.

Doug began his professional career in graphic design working with a few local companies before taking a leap of faith and starting his own business, Stucky Design, where he built a career as a graphic designer and brand specialist. He eventually rebranded the business as Red Catapult depicting his ability to “launch” ideas. Throughout his career, Doug lent his creativity, expertise, and generous spirit to countless organizations and causes that mattered to him, including the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, rebuilding the local American Institute of Graphic Artisits, and many other community organizations. Working with young designers through AIGA is when he realized how much he loved mentoring and challenging people.

That is what made the beginning of his education career in 2014 so perfect. Doug joined Wichita State University as an adjunct professor and later helped develop the College of Innovation and Design, where so many of his professional passions came together. His business acumen, creative vision, love of design, and natural instinct to mentor others made him an incredible asset to the college and the people around him. He especially loved spending time with the students, often saying that being around them kept him young. Doug had a gift for recognizing potential in others and helping them see it in themselves. His influence extended far beyond the projects he worked on; he invested in people.

Outside of work, Doug knew how to enjoy life. He loved traveling and taking pictures, shopping for the perfect find, and showing off a new pair of wonderfully groovy socks or shoes. He loved classic rock, Founders IPA, Hallmark Christmas movies, and spending every possible second of summer in the pool. He loved hiking through Grand Lake, Colorado and treasured walks with his best boy, Harlee, who was never far from his side.

But above all else, Doug was a family man. He was the very best girl dad and Pop Pop anyone could ever ask for. He loved his daughters fiercely and took immeasurable joy in his grandchildren. His version of paradise was simple: a Sunday afternoon surrounded by the people he loved, playing with his grandkids, watching football, KU Basketball or NASCAR, and enjoying whatever fabulous meal Jenalee had cooked up. He didn’t need a grand adventure or an elaborate plan. If his family was together, he was exactly where he wanted to be.

Doug’s life was measured not just by the things he created, the businesses he built, or the organizations he supported, but by the people he loved and the countless lives he made better simply by being in them. He had a way of making everyone feel like they belonged, and the world is a little less bright without him in it. His family will forever carry forward his generosity, his creativity, his humor, his curiosity, and, most importantly, his extraordinary capacity to love.

Doug is preceded in death by his parents, LeRoy and Darlene Stucky; and his sister, Denise Manzoor.

He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of more than 40 years, Jenalee; his daughters, Lauren (Randall) Rank and Brittany (Jaryd) Moore; his cherished grandchildren, Grady Rank, Bryant Rank, and Olivia Moore; and his best boy, Harlee.

A memorial service celebrating Doug’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Calvary United Methodist Church.

Doug loved a good story, and a good laugh. We will be holding an open time during the celebration for anyone who wishes to share a fond or funny memory. Hearing these memories helps all of us. In true Doug fashion, guests are encouraged to wear their favorite crazy or colorful socks to the service in his honor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Disaster Relief Fund through the National American Red Cross, 707 N. Main, Wichita, KS 67203.

The best way to continue to honor Doug is to do what he did so effortlessly: make someone feel welcome, take the time to know what matters to them, find joy in the everyday moments, and never miss an opportunity to tell the people you love just how much they mean to you.

Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.