Douglas Watters

It is with broken hearts and all my love of 59 years of marriage to the best husband and father, we announce the passing of Douglas Neil Watters, AKA “Konka” 78 years old from Muscatine Iowa. He Died at home on May 26, 2026, after a long hard battle of pancreatic cancer.

Doug was born on February 22, 1948. He was the son of Douglas R. Watters and Charlotte G. Watters.

He Graduated Muscatine High School in 1966. After Graduation he joined the United States Navy and was assigned to U.S.S. Menhaden Submarine until 1970.

Doug married his High School sweetheart, Jane Behrend in 1967 while still in the Navy and they moved to California. During his military career, four years in the Navy and 30 years as a civilian working for the Army, they moved 21 times, always managing to enjoy the new adventure, laughing together, learning the language of a different country and most of all, making and keeping so many friends!

Doug never took his eyes off the prize, the love of his life Jane. They fished, camped, and road tripped across the country (with Remi in tow). Living in multiple countries and several states before building their final home in Davenport, Iowa.

He was a man of great character, deep family value and working hard was more of a hobby than a chore. He never knew a stranger, could make a whole room laugh out loud and could fix just about anything (with duct tape).

A quote from the formal CAT 1987 after action review document. “The best thing about Doug Watters Zeroing System was Doug Watters!” “Doug didn’t just brief a new concept and leave it to work, he instead spent two weeks with the 3AD CAT tank crews in Baumholder, Germany, helping the soldiers zero each tank main gun and working through the problems that each tank system experienced.” He was an integral part of our gunnery team, and we could not have won the Canadian Army Trophy Competition without his shared mechanical knowledge, experience and guidance.

Doug is preceded in death by his parents, and sisters; Toni Richardson and Linda Hildahl.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife Jane, son; Rodd (Jana) Watters, daughter; Lori (Eric) Kopka, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

To all my friends from all around, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me through these last two years. God isn’t the only one who saved me, you all did too!

Special thanks to John Menard and Gary Fravel for all their help, Doug would be so proud.

Per Doug’s wishes, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers the family asks you to donate to Tunnels to Towers Foundation.