Below is an obituary from Nichols Funeral Home:
WILMINGTON, MA — Douglas D. Andersen, fondly known as “Doug” or “Dougie” to family and friends, a life-long Wilmington resident, passed away peacefully at home on June 28, 2024; he was 85 years old.
Doug was born at home on Hillside Way on March 14, 1939; he was the cherished only son to the late David E. and Evelyn (Ross) Andersen. Doug was raised and educated in Wilmington where he made many life-long friends, worked on the family farm, and loved to play sports. Doug also played football and hockey for the Wilmington Wildcats High School teams and graduated from Wilmington High School with the Class of 1957.
Following graduation 1957, Doug along with his dad Dave, purchased the service station in North Wilmington and named it “D & D Auto”; this was the start of a long and rewarding career in the Auto Repair and Gas industry. Doug had a passion for all cars; he was a talented mechanic who could diagnose and fix just about any problem that arose. He had a great personality; he was always so kind and generous with all of his customers throughout the years. Doug later expanded his business to include towing both locally and for the State Police and thus D & D Towing came about; once again, Doug worked tirelessly throughout the years to help everyone.
Doug married the “love of his life” Brenda Callahan on June 5, 1960; the couple shared many wonderful times together with family and friends throughout the years. Doug and Brenda settled on Oakdale Road where they raised two beautiful daughters Carla and Karen, who Doug adored and would do anything for. When Carla and Karen got married Doug welcomed two new “sons” Bob and Paul into his family; they were more than sons-in-law they became great friends.
Doug’s most treasured role would come a little later in life when he became “Bumpie” to his seven grandchildren who he thought the world of. Doug welcomed his new role as “chauffer” for the grandkids, he never missed a school or sporting event, graduation, birthday or special occasion to celebrate with them. They were all “his favorite”; each had a different relationship with Doug, but they all loved to go swimming in the pool with “Bumpie”, taking walks, long talks, going for ice cream, and getting into mischief. Doug’s grandchildren idolized him; they all thought of him as a confidant, best friend, and mentor. As the grandchildren married, Doug welcomed all of their spouses and was thrilled to have 13 great-grandchildren come along and was so happy to find out that a new great-granddaughter would be joining “the crew” in October. Doug’s face would literally light up when those babies were around; he got the biggest kick out of all their personalities.
Doug and Brenda’s door was always open to family, friends, and especially their daughter’s friends; they had countless cookouts, holidays parties, celebrations, on Oakdale Road and at their home on High Street. All were welcome and they treated everyone as their own!
Doug enjoyed traveling with Brenda and his family; some of his favorite trips were to Ireland, Hawaii, cruises to Bermuda and Alaska. He looked forward to going to Disney World with the children and grandchildren; he loved to see the excitement on the kids’ faces. Doug and Brenda loved going to Florida throughout the years and following retirement they became “snowbirds” for the winter months.
Doug was a member of the Wilmington Rotary Club for many years; he served as Past President and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Doug gave willingly of his time and talents for the many community events, fundraisers, Rotary Auctions, Fun on the Fourth Rotary dinners, or wherever he was needed to help raise funds for the community, students, and scholarships.
In his spare time, Doug, looked forward to his Friday night card games with the guys, playing 2nd base for the D & D Gulf softball team at the town park, a nightly run to Dairy Queen for the family, and trips to Encore or Twin Rivers “just to try his luck”. Doug loved to follow all Boston sports teams, but his favorite was the Red Sox.
Following his retirement from the gas station, Doug found that he really couldn’t keep still for long, so he took a job with the Town of Wilmington and drove the minibus for the school department. Doug really enjoyed working with the students, he was so kind to the kids, and he got along well with his co-workers who he considered friends.
Doug will be remembered as a “great guy” who would do anything for anyone. He was kind, thoughtful, social, and generous to a fault; and if anyone needed anything Doug would be the first one there no questions asked. Doug was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, son, and a true friend to many; he loved his family and friends unconditionally and will forever live on in their hearts.
Doug was the beloved husband of 64 years to Brenda M. Andersen, devoted father of Carla J. Peterson and her husband Robert all of Wilmington, Karen L. Boudreau and her husband Paul of Sanford, ME, formerly of Wilmington, and Glenn Sullivan and his wife Teri of Wilmington. Loving “Bumpie” of Ryan Boudreau and wife Sarah, Robert G. Peterson Jr. and wife Kelly, Courtney Butler and husband Stephen, Catherine Comeau and husband Matt, Mary Needham and husband Stephen, Patrick Boudreau and wife Jen, David Peterson, and great-grandchildren Anna, Hadley, John, Sloane, Emma, Willa, Norah, Maeve, Quinn, Luke, Tommy, Cora, Layne, and baby Butler due in October. Doug is also survived by his life-long best friend Robert Shelley and his wife Annette of Wilmington, he was the dear brother-in-law of William and Cathy Callahan of CT, Sheila Camic of Wilmington, and the late Beverly and Wes Williams, and is further survived by his nieces, nephews, and friends.
Family and friends will gather for Visiting Hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, on Tuesday, July 9th from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A Service to celebrate Doug’s life will take place at the Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 10th at 10:30 a.m. followed by interment in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Doug’s memory may be made to the Claire M. and Herbert W. Peterson Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Attorney Robert Peterson Sr., 314 Main Street, Wilmington, MA 01887.
To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.
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