Douglas Ford Hollingshead, of Ann Arbor, MI, age 77, passed away on February 17, 2023. He was born in Coalville, Utah, son of Lee Hollingshead and Alta (Ellingford) Hollingshead but grew up in Evanston, Wyoming.
After receiving a full scholarship to University of Wyoming upon high school graduation he moved to Laramie, Wyoming where he received his Bachelor of Engineering degree. The engineering department of Stanford University in California awarded Doug a scholarship, and there he completed his graduate degree in Hydraulic Engineering. Doug obtained his professional license of engineering and joined Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco, California, where he worked on Nuclear Power Plant Design and international hydraulic projects taking him to Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.
College Park, Maryland became his next Bechtel location. There he continued his engineering career and taught engineering classes at the University of Maryland. He was sent to Ann Arbor, Michigan to work on the proposed nuclear power plant. It was in Ann Arbor that Doug met Sarah Steeb, who was soon to become his wife. They married in Ann Arbor on June 24, 1978. In 1979, Doug was promoted and moved to Houston, Texas. It was there that they started their family of a daughter, Samantha, and son, Zachary. Doug taught engineering classes at the University of Texas, worked on Bechtel projects, and managed to complete a Masters of Business at the University of St. Thomas. Family wishes brought Doug and Sarah back to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he joined the firm of FAAC, Inc. switching his field of engineering into aeronautical and military missile design which ultimately led him to Tucson, Arizona at Raytheon Missiles & Defense.
Doug's love of the West was revived during his stay there, and he enjoyed visiting with his daughter and son who were students at the University of Arizona. Retiring from Raytheon, Doug made Ann Arbor his home again. Rejoining FAAC, Inc. became his dream retirement job. As Senior Consultant, he worked on military systems and simulation projects. Doug worked at FAAC, Inc. up until his death.
Doug grew up and studied in the West and never lost his love of it. He said his best pair of shoes was his cowboy boots. He loved true classical country music and was proud owner of a truck. Aside from this, Doug also loved poetry and wrote poems. With their two children they traveled out West often to national parks and visits to relatives, dude ranches being a favorite resort from Arizona to Wyoming to Montana. Doug and Sarah took the kids on exciting international trips and many trips around the United States.
Of all of his best achievements, was the parenting of their two children. Doug was a devoted father and held the hope to expose his kids to what was possible and to widen their outlook, but the most important thing was to leave them a set of positive values and ethics. Time and resources went into raising his children. Ski trips, biking, camping, hiking, national park adventures, supporting Samantha's equestrian interests, and son Zack's love of wakeboarding was always important to him. Academically, Doug was the best private tutor, school science fair director, school project leader, and open mind to their needs and interests.
Torch Lake became the location of Doug and Sarah's family cottage. Never being around water in the West, Torch Lake became a new adventure. He reveled in his son's love of the water, which included sailing, boating, and thrill riding the Jetski!
Sunset cruises, campfires, and incredible sunsets became his new life. His business and private travels took him to Taiwan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and a safari to Kenya, Africa with his wife Sarah. Sarah and Doug would have celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary this June. He was a loving supporting partner to Sarah, and together they led a full, exciting, ever-changing life together. His presence will be missed by his wife and two children, Samantha and Zachary. He is survived by his wife, Sarah Jane (Steeb), his daughter, Samantha Hollingshead (Marcus) of Steamboat Springs, CO and son, Zachary (Heather) Hollingshead of Ypsilanti, MI, a sister, Maurine (Steve) Tanner of Helper, Utah, and a sister-in-law, Marjorie Hollingshead. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Ronald Hollingshead.
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023, 1:00 p.m., at Weber's Restaurant, 3050 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, where the family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the YMCA Camp Hayo-Went-Ha. Checks may be sent to 919 N East Torch Lake Drive, Central Lake, MI 49622.
Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
