Doug Diehnel

Charles Douglas “Doug” Diehnel was born September 7, 1949 in Yale, Oklahoma. He was a big boy when he came into this world at 9 pounds six ounces and 22 ¼ inches and has been a big boy all his life. He was the son of B. L. and Roberta (Griffin) Diehnel. Doug was initially raised in Cleveland and started his education there in the first grade. He later attended schools in Bristow, Sapulpa, and Oklahoma City before returning to Cleveland schools in 1963. While attending school in Sapulpa, Doug was the catcher for a little league championship baseball team. Upon returning to Cleveland, Doug was active in football and basketball as well as numerous other high school activities including the junior and senior plays, student council and the “C” club. Doug graduated from Cleveland High School with the Class of 1967.

Upon completion of high school, Doug attended the University of Oklahoma for a year before moving with his family to Fayetteville, North Carolina where he attended Methodist College, also playing basketball. He later attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for a year before returning to Oklahoma where he graduated from Central State University in Edmond, with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He then enlisted into the service of his country in the United States Army serving at the Pentagon in Washington D. C. his entire two year commitment. He was then honorably discharged and moved to Eugene and then Portland, Oregon. After his discharge, Doug began a career in sales; ultimately working for Yellow Pages for many years in the St. Louis area and then returning to Oklahoma where through marriage was blessed with a step-daughter, Stephanie.

In 1997, Doug was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease involving an immune-mediated process in which an abnormal response of the body’s immune system is directed against the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. The exact antigen — or target that the immune cells are sensitized to attack — remains unknown, which is why MS is considered by many experts to be “immune-mediated” rather than an “autoimmune disease.” He first realized that he was experiencing symptoms of MS when he fell while playing golf with his good friend, John Rowe. To be able to play a round of golf was the simple pleasure Doug Diehnel dreamed of throughout the years of being trapped by the unbelievable tangles of Multiple Sclerosis. His grand dream in life was to travel and play the finest golf courses that he had time to play. Today, he is free and able to play on all the greatest golf courses in the world as he leaves the bondages of MS and this earth behind.


Doug had many different interests and career paths. He worked in the oil and gas industry as well as the computer industry. He always loved computers and his iPhone eventually was his tether to the outside world. He lived a full life that included his music and books but always centered on his circle of friends that followed him from Cleveland to Portland, Oregon.

Throughout the years, Doug continued to work in sales, finally working as a computer software salesperson. In 2009, he returned to Cleveland as his disease was progressing and was forced to medically retire. He continued to live an active lifestyle until he was involved in an automobile accident being hit by a drunk driver and the complications of the injuries and the multiple sclerosis necessitated continuous medical assistance. He resided in Green Tree assisted living in Sand Springs for a time before moving to the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Claremore a couple of years ago.

Doug was a loving son, brother and friend who enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a friend to many and was always available to help anyone who needed his assistance. He was loyal to his family and friends and had a special relationship with his mother who assisted in and watched over his care tenaciously. He was an avid golfer throughout his life and also enjoyed snow skiing while residing in Oregon. Doug was an avid University of Oklahoma Sooner fan and enjoyed watching the Sooners football and basketball teams. He loved to read and especially enjoyed mystery novels and could be found with the newspaper each morning catching up on local events.

Doug passed from this life on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at the St. John Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of sixty-five with his greatest and never-ending support of his life by his side, his mother. Throughout the ups and downs of his disease, his mother, Roberta Diehnel, was constantly there to support and guide him. Along with Roberta came a host of friends and family to care for him. None were more important than Roberta's best friend, Sybil Blake, and Reverend David Mingus who were always there to support, drive, stay in the hospital, and care for Doug and Roberta.


He was preceded in death by his father, B. L. Diehnel. Doug is survived by his mother, Roberta Diehnel of Cleveland, Oklahoma; brother, David Diehnel of Palm Springs, California; daughter, Stephanie Reed of Katy, Texas; granddaughter, Marley Downey of Katy, Texas; grandson, Finn Reed of Katy, Texas; numerous other friends and relative that will mourn his passing including his lifetime friend, John Rowe.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral with Gene Black serving as celebrant. Cremation was entrusted to the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Doug’s cremated remains will be interred in the Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland.

The family suggests donations to the the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate.