Douglas Edward Ohm

Douglas Edward Ohm was born in Omaha, Nebraska on November 2, 1949 to Edward and Leola (Kunneman) Ohm. Douglas grew up in Elkhorn, Nebraska and graduated from Elkhorn High School in 1967. Growing up, he liked riding his bike, 4-H, riding and training his horses, especially his beloved horse, Kohnar. He also enjoyed playing outside with friends, playing drums and piano, and reading and working with his dad. He even started subbing for his dad on the drums for band gigs at the age of 14! Doug learned the value of hard work from a young age. At the age of 8 Doug was already mowing 5 to 6 yards. By age 12 he was working for farmers by bailing hay, walking beans, and even helped his father and owner at the Purina Feed Mill. By age 15 Doug worked at Skyline Golf Course earning $1.25 an hour from 4am to 3pm every day in the summer. At 17 years old, Doug worked at Westroads Mall at Montgomery Ward tire department and JC Penny. When Doug wasn’t working he kept busy with many high school activities. He was a forward on the basketball team, quarterback, kicker, and safety on the football team, and ran the low and high hurdles, long jump, and mile relay team on track and field. Doug was also gifted musically; he sang in the choir and other small ensembles and was a member of the concert and marching band in high school. In 1967 Doug went to Midland Lutheran College and graduated in 1971 with a degree in business administration. During college, Doug was a 3-year starter on the basketball team. His junior year was career high in which he scored 35 points before the 3-point rule was established! He was the freshman class president in 1967-1968 and a member of the Blue Key Society, a student honor fraternity. He was also a member of the rock band playing keyboard and vocals with 7-Legends. Doug also substitute drumming for Clef Dwellers. In 2001, Doug was inducted into the Nebraska Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the 7-Legends. Music was always very important to Doug and getting inducted is something he was very proud of. Even while involved in numerous organizations, Doug still found the time to work. The first couple summers of college he worked for Masonry Contractor carrying bricks and blocks for just $2.50 an hour. This was hard, physical work and Doug says he gained 15 pounds of muscle! Later he worked for Sycamore Farms where he helped build fences, clean barns, bailed hay, and other jobs while also working at a local gas station. He continually stayed busy playing band gigs during this time as well. After college, Doug was drafted to the Vietnam War and served from 1972 to 1975. Bootcamp was 9 weeks, then to A School to be Personnelman (service record keeper). Then HS-2 (Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron) and time on the USS Enterprise traveling through the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Island of Mauritius, and Kenya. Doug always said his service for our country was something he was most proud of. After Vietnam, Doug came back to Nebraska and began work at Mutual of Omaha as an insurance agent. Shortly after he met Margaret (Voegele) Ohm and they married in 1977 and moved into a home on Main Street in Elkhorn. Over the course of their 30-year-long marriage, they had three daughters: Laura (1979), Emily (1980), and Catherine (1991). These were busy years with work and raising a family, but Doug balanced it well. Doug worked at Mutual of Omaha and made Chairman’s Council (top 300). In 1998, he joined Mass Mutual as an agent and registered representative, and as the Nebraska Agency’s investment and annuity supervisor. In 2002, Doug became independent as a total needs financial services consultant. He was affiliated with GWR Investments and in 2004, Securities America acquired GWR and Doug had worked as a financial advisor with Securities America and Regency Investments until his death. He was a hard worker and dedicated himself to his clients. While his girls were growing up, Doug was very involved in their activities and education. He was very proud of coaching his daughter’s youth basketball teams for many years. He helped them develop into skillful and motivated basketball players and athletes, preparing them for successful high school seasons. He really loved those days of coaching! Doug continued to be very active in athletics, frequently playing basketball, tennis, and golf. Unfortunately, he ruptured his Achilles tendon in the late 1980’s. That didn’t stop Doug. He kept playing basketball and in 1996 blew his knee out and had another surgery. After that, he finally decided no more competitive basketball. Doug continued golfing regularly in leagues and with friends. He always loved to be on the golf course or watching it at home. After Doug and Margaret parted ways, Doug met Helen. They were married in 2008. They loved to have fun together and laugh. They liked to travel to places to sight see and golf, try good food, and enjoy being together. Doug was very passionate about politics, the United States of America, and our veterans. He loved good music and in his own words, the “horns, harmonies, drumbeats, melodies, and showmanship”. He loved to dress up goofy, crack jokes, and make people laugh. Doug is survived by his wife, Helen; children: Laura (Rob) Vitera, Emily (Ben) Brachle, Catherine (Andrew) Sodawasser; stepdaughter, Fiona (Scott) Burns; grandchildren: Lillian, RJ, Isaac, Luke, Gabriel, Andrew, Clare, Elouise, Jayden, Emily, and Iain; sister, Carmen Dau, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Leola (Kunneman) Ohm, and sister, Ardeth Moser. Doug left his daughter’s a Father’s Journal (2025) and some of his advice includes: • Have a lasting relationship with Jesus • Work hard, play hard! • Stay active and in shape as long as you can • Try always to do the right thing, not just the easy thing • Try your best to find what you want to do for the rest of your life • Stay positive – being negative and worrying won’t move you forward • Like Winston Churchill said, NEVER, NEVER give up • Never talk the talk, strive to walk the walk • Don’t automatically follow the crowd • Have your goals in concrete, plan in sand • Strive for balance in all things • Praise God, Thank God, Share God • Always look for the good in others “As you can tell, I have a million of them. Sometimes I faltered, but I tried to put all my advice to use in my very full and colorful life here. My legacy is you (daughters) and your kids to carry on with good lives, too.” – Doug Ohm, 2025

Douglas Edward Ohm

November 2, 1949 - June 28, 2026