Douglas William Reed

Douglas W. Reed, age 63, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2026, after a three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer, far outliving initial expectations. He was born on November 2, 1962 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, the son of Donald G. Reed, Sr. and the late Donna Lou Heinlen Reed.

Doug was an innovative musician and an outstanding high school football player, earning First Team All–Northwest Football Conference honors at both offensive and defensive tackle during his junior and senior years. He took up wrestling in his junior year; competing at heavyweight, he was often outweighed by his opponents. During his early teen years, Doug taught himself bass guitar and keyboard. He also composed and arranged music on his Commodore 64 computer, which was highly unique for the time. Doug played in many local bands in both the Sharon, PA and Waukesha, WI areas and was regarded by fellow musicians as one of the best bass guitarists in the entire Milwaukee/Waukesha region. In November 2022, five bands organized and performed a fundraiser for Doug in Waukesha, a testament to the affection and respect he inspired.

After graduating from Youngstown State University with an associate degree in Architecture, he went on to achieve his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. He started his career with Westinghouse Electric, designing large-scale power transformers and later retired from SPX Transformer Solutions for health reasons. Doug was highly respected by his peers and frequently gave presentations at professional conferences throughout the country.

Doug was a selfless and kind soul who loved camping, boating, and fishing, especially on Lake Michigan for Chinook and King salmon. He would regularly position his boat at the precise spot beneath the low-point flyby of the Blue Angels air shows, delighting in the thunder and backdrafts.

Doug was the proud and loving father of five rambunctious sons, who later went and served in the United States Marine Corps and in law enforcement. He and his sons loved target shooting together. They built lasting memories at local pistol and rifle ranges, and Doug especially loved clay pigeon shooting with shotguns. Time spent with his sons was his greatest joy, and they were at his side until the end.

Doug is survived by his father, Donald G. Reed, Sr.; his sons Brandon (Taylor) Reed and their children, Sebastian and Nora of MO; twin sons Timothy Reed of FL and Tyler Reed of CA; twin sons Benjamin (Gretchen) Reed of TX and Daniel Reed of WI; and his brother, Don Reed, Jr. of PA. He is also survived by his fiancée, Patti Fitzsimmons, whose loving care and devotion sustained him throughout his illness, and by his former wife and the mother of his children, Susan Morris Reed. He also leaves behind his faithful canine companion, Wags.

Doug was preceded in death by his mother, Donna Lou Reed, who passed in December 2005, as well as his former father-in-law, Robert Morris, and former mother-in-law, Violet Morris.

Funeral services are under the direction of Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, and will be held Friday, February 13th at Fox River Church S46W24130 Lawnsdale Rd. Waukesha, Wisconsin. Visitation will take place from 4:30 until the 6:30 p.m. funeral service.

The family suggests memorial contributions be directed to Bill Rudge Ministries, P.O. Box 108, Sharon, PA 16146, or to the American Cancer Society.