Service Details
Funeral services will be held in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 11:00 am. Interment, with military honors, will follow in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Monday from 5:00 – 8:00 pm and on Tuesday from 10:00-11:00 am.
Mount Pleasant- Douglas “Doug” Theron DeVinny, age 80, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded with the love of family, early Saturday morning, January 4, 2025.
Doug was born in Montrose, Colorado, on March 10, 1944, to George and Bernice (nee: Fredrickson) DeVinny.
Growing up in western Colorado, Doug spent his formative years surrounded by family and friends, the mountains, music, dogs, and art— things he loved throughout his life.
After receiving his BA in painting at Colorado State University, the Army called. Doug served his country in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star. After his tour of duty ended, Doug completed his Master of Fine Arts at Indiana University. It was there he honed his printmaking skills and met the other love of his life, Lana. They married and began a decade of working, traveling and moving, with Doug teaching at various colleges across the country including Skidmore College, Indiana University, and Mesa State College, before the UW-Parkside and the tenure track found Doug and they made Racine home.
Doug taught printmaking (with a brief stint in the provost’s office) at UW-P for thirty years. He sparked the creativity and sharpened the skills of thousands of students over his years. Doug brought humor, creativity, eagle-eyed critique, and technical proficiency to every class he taught. He spent weeks each summer teaching at Pigeon Lake, working plein aire and frequenting the Up North bars. He received the Stella Gray Teaching Excellence award in 2002. Doug made lasting friendships and impacted countless lives in and out of the studio through these years.
Doug never stopped making his own art. He illustrated medical journal articles with Dr. Charles Abernathy. In 1987, he founded the “Parkside National Print Exhibition,” one of the longest-running competitive print exhibitions in the Midwest. He received the 2012-2013 Racine Art Museum fellowship award. Doug’s work was shown in over 150 exhibitions, including 13 solo shows, 42 regional and national group invitational exhibitions, 47 national juried exhibitions, 7 national invitational exchange portfolios, and 17 Watercolor Wisconsin exhibitions. His work is in national collections including Indiana University, the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, University of Colorado, and the Racine Art Museum. And every single Valentine’s Day, Doug made a treasured valentine for his family.
In addition to the unetched copper plates, unopened whiskey bottles, and incomplete crosswords he never got the chance to finish, Doug will be dearly missed by countless former students. No one will mourn his loss more deeply than his wife of 53 years. Doug is survived by his wife, Lana; daughters Erika DeVinny of Cincinnati, OH, and Gabby (Mike) Fekete of Cary, NC; his grandchildren Jared, Colten and Jack Willard, and Evan and Olive Fekete; his brother, David DeVinny of Cedaredge, CO; brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Doris Carmony of Shelbyville, IN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Doug was preceded in death by his siblings, Joan Mickelsen, Fred DeVinny, and Carla Logan, and by youngest daughter, Alex DeVinny, whom he missed every day she was gone.
The family wishes to thank the Senior Helpers (especially Vesna, Tina, and Enyo) for all they did during Doug’s last two months.
Funeral services will be held in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 11:00 am. Interment, with military honors, will follow in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Monday from 5:00 – 8:00 pm and on Tuesday from 10:00-11:00 am.
“Here is my secret, a very simple secret: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” —Antoine de Saint Exupéry. The quote given by Doug to Lana 53 years ago, and carried with her each of those days.
Chris Dorf says
What can one say about Doug’s life that wasn’t said by the way he lived it?
The ultimate compliment I could give is that Doug lived out his life in exactly the same way that he treated all the people that came thru his life; with honesty, openness, caring, and truthfulness — the qualities that define a person as genuine.
Everyone that crossed paths with you Doug, will miss you, and recall the beauty that you added to all our lives
Eric Easthon says
Doug was probably the most consequential and influential man to have ever come into my life. He seems to have found me when I needed him most and in doing so altered the course of my life, as I imagine he did for so many of his students and friends.
He was a teacher, a mentor, a friend and father figure to me. His influence was, has, and will continue to be immensely profound. I will treasure his life lessons, his stories, jokes, and the innumerable art skills he taught me as a student. There is, of course, the many drinks we shared peppered along the way.
There was a group of us printmakers who were students of Doug’s not long before he retired to whom Doug was larger than life. He was our leader, our mascot and our hero. He bonded together a bunch of young art misfits into a printmaking militia who would become friends and collaborators for life. We shared ideas, traded drawings and prints, collaborated on sketchbook games, worked on the UWP Print exhibition, travelled to New York and Chicago, and, of course, haunted the bars together.
Doug will forever be missed.
My sincerest condolences to his family in this hard time. Doug was a man of innumerable qualities and talents. As a former student, I thank you with all my heart for sharing a bit of him with us.
Susan Pasch says
I will miss you so much Doug. My heart goes out to your wonderful and loving family. Doug was one of my most beloved and influential professors. And it’s okay, that you and soccer were the reason (fate) that I met my ex husband of 27 years. At least I divorced well😉. By the way, I got to see Willie Nelson in concert in Cherokee, NC. And his sister played the piano and Kris Kristofferson sang some songs.
Mary and Patrick Veerkamp says
Lana, Erika and Gabby…you have written beautifully about Doug’s life. You will morn his passing and yet what wonderful memories he has left for you.
Mary and Patrick
Chris and Chacha says
Lana, Gabby & Erika, we are heartbroken for you and your families at the loss of Doug. We enjoyed our time together when Doug and Lana would visit Gabby and family in North Carolina. Seeing the amazing Valentine’s Day prints he made for the three of you each year was so wonderful. He loved you all so much. I wish we could be with you at the service, but will be with you in spirit. All our love,
Jenny Gourdoux Newell says
I studied art under Doug at UW-P many years ago. Every time I stepped foot inside his classroom I learned something new. Doug was more than a teacher, he was a good friend and inspiration to all his students. He was an incredibly talented and brilliant artist. Most importantly, he was a wonderful and caring human being.
Sending heartfelt condolences to all who will miss him.
Paul Burmeister says
As an art teacher (he liked to call himself a “coach”), Doug had an uncanny ability to tuck crucial insight into a comment about the work of a student or peer. This discerning ability of his sprung from a deep well of human generosity and compassion. I met him at Pigeon Lake when I was in my 40s, and I am grateful for his peer mentorship. I also had the great blessing to work outdoors with him and watch him dash off one marvelous sketch after another. He had an amazingly strong and fluid touch with a pen and a brush (on manilla paper); we all wish we had a measure of his artistic gifts! We all wish we had a measure of his humility.
Jim & Janet Cheskaty says
As we reflected on our time with Doug & Lana (it was the way we always thought of them – inextricably linked) in our minds…
meeting Brandy and Honky after D&L had arrived from Saratoga Springs, Erika was just a small wisp of a tow-head, very shy,
hiding her face in Doug’s shoulder as he carried her… almost 50 years ago, gone in a blink.
having the good fortune to visit them a few times in Racine and later seeing them when they visited Montrose & GJ —
the last time at Charlie Hardy’s house.
All good & cherished memories! There was always a consistency whenever we spoke – even if sometime had passed, it seemed
like it was a continuing of an ongoing conversation.
Our best to Lana and condolences to Erika & Gabby and their respective families.
Rest in Peace Doug – you led an artist’s life. I will always recall the elegance of your ‘line’. The fox is correct. Hope to see you down the trail.
Love to you, Jim and Janet
Greg Langenfeld says
Dear Doug. You came into my life as my families new neighbor in 1979 and from the very beginning you and your wonderful family have had a profound impact on on the Langenfeld family. From your amazing artwork [which I proudly own and display many wonderful pieces] to your love of conversation, reading, music, developing long lasting friendships, food, drink [you got me hooked on enjoying bourbon] and so many other memorable attributes. During our last visits you and I discussed authors you loved and you borrowed to me copies of some of your favorite reads. I loved every one and couldn’t wait to discuss in length with you. I’m extremely saddened that time ran out on our visits. Know that I will read many more from these authors and think of you always.
Lori and I will treasure every moment spent with you and Lana and know that we will always be there for her. Love Greg and Lori
Laura Knudsen says
I am happy I got to meet Doug and Lana and work with him in PT. He was nice to work with and I liked his art stories and him showing his work and others. My sincere condolences
Irene says
I am sorry Lana. You and the girls will be in our thoughts.
Jon Lyons says
As Chaplain for American Legion Post 21, Sons of The American Legion Squadron 21, and District 1 out of Kenosha Wisconsin, prayers go out to you all! Remember the gift of knowing this great individual! Salute to you and thank you for your service! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Karoline Steckley says
I cherish the lessons Doug taught me first as my soccer coach in elementary school with Erika and later as my art teacher during my first year of college. He was so funny, thoughtful, smart, kind, talented, and a great teacher, mentor, coach, and family man. He made the people around him feel special and I have missed him many times over the years. I am grateful for having had him in my life. My deepest sympathies to Lana, Erika, Gabby and the rest of his wonderful family.
Ryan says
The first time I met Mr. De Vinny, I was a scared freshman at UWP in 1996. Denim shirt tucked into his denim pants, curly hair, and a fluffy beard. We met weeks prior to the school year starting as I was roaming the halls of Parkside getting a feel of where my classrooms were. I popped my head into one of the ComArts studios and striked up a brief 2-3 minute conversation with him. My very first day, freshman year, I had a drawing class with him. He immediately shook my hand with a warm smile and said “Hello!” Just then, everything felt like it was going to be alright.
He was a very influential man who who had a big heart. Some of my fondest memories of college were the times spent in his classrooms.
My condolences to the De Vinny family.
Marci Olson says
It is never easy to put into words the sorrowful loss and loving prayers you have for someone who is grieving but I will try my best by saying I am thinking of you all in this difficult time.
I was lucky enough to know Doug through my close friendship with Gabby, but also as a teacher and will never forget his amazing cooking, sense of humor and artistic talent.
I not only learned how to draw a self portrait from Doug, but also what polenta was, and I will never forget either of those things!
My love and prayers to the whole family.
Karen (Bolander) Krupp says
I will never forget you Doug. You were extraordinary in every way. You made my time at Parkside shine. I loved your Willie Nelson music playing in the background during drawing classes. Our field trips to the Chicago Art Museum and lunches at the Berghoff were epic! You were much more than a fantastic artist and professor. You were a friend, a very good friend. See you on the flip side.
Pamela Ybema Deskins says
Doug was my professor at Parkside from 1979 though 2984. I remember him talking a bout his resume. He told the story how he put his photo wearing hi cowboy hat. He said that would get their attention. When i would create a resume, I always used a photo of myself and my dog. I always got the job. Thank you Doug, for your dedication to art and country. You will be missed by many.
Charles “Chuck” Schubert says
I am deeply saddened by this news. I served in Viet Nam in 1968 with Doug. He was a dear friend, who I respected for his humor, intellect, and his artistic talent. Being 4 years younger than Doug, I looked up to him, and truly admired him. We went our separate ways after the war. I found his contact information from one of his old students,and we started emailing each other. I am upset with myself for not staying in touch with him over the years. I am going back to Viet Nam in March, and I was just getting ready to give Doug a call to see if he wanted me to check out anything in Viet Nam when I will be there. We will miss you my Brother.
Lori (Delcore) Billips says
Doug was one of my favorite professors at Parkside. I remember his humor, his knowledge, and his overall way of making seemingly complicated things simple. He inspired me, and I am glad I had the chance to be his student. Condolences to his family.
Amy (Eastman) Anderson says
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss, Lana, Erika & Gabby. I am blessed with memories of many evenings babysitting Erika & Gabby — beautiful, joyful little girls. Lana, you & Doug were lovely parents — always so patient & always so kind.
I believe that Doug’s soul is with Alex’s now — held in the arms of God. May your loss draw you close to eachother with joyful memories. I will remember him — his smiling eyes & kind voice — as a light in this world that still shines through those who loved him so well.