Douglas R. Mienk
Douglas R. Mienk MD, age 72, of Farwell, passed away surrounded by his loved ones on Friday, August 8, at My Michigan Health in Midland. Doug was born the son of Roy L. and Dianne (Green) Mienk on Oct. 20, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan.
Doug and his family moved to Gladwin in 1968, when his father took over the management of the Gladwin Heights Golf Course. Doug worked for his father on the golf course doing everything from golf cart maintenance, mowing fairways and watering greens all night long.
He arrived at Gladwin High as a junior in 1968 and soon realized that Gladwin and Redford Township (Detroit) were two very different places. Doug brought some Detroit style with him, showing up at school wearing black Beatle boots, black jeans, and a waist length black leather jacket, a fine look for sure but not exactly what you would see around Gladwin at the time. That of course changed over time with a bit of cultural adjustment as he and Gladwin got to know each other.
Doug was a car guy through and through and remained so for his entire life. Growing up in Gladwin in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s was muscle car nirvana and Doug had some beauties. His first car was a 1964 Pontiac Bonneville with many others to follow including a Corvette, Plymouth Road Runner, and a Mustang Mach 1 to name a few. But probably his most memorable car, a 1963 Chevy Impala SS with a 427 and four speed, was arguably the fastest car in Gladwin County. Doug learned a lot from his father about auto mechanics and as a result, worked on his own cars. It was a joke around town that Doug would blow out the rearend gears racing on Friday night, and have new ones installed in time to race again Saturday night.
After graduation from Gladwin High in 1970 Doug decided he wanted to become a medical nurse and with hard work, eventually achieved his LPN credentials. But he soon came to realize that he really had a passion for Medicine and caring for others and decided that he was going to Medical School where he achieved his MD in Internal Medicine. After graduation the family decided to move back to Central Michigan and the rural living that he had come to love. They relocated to Clare where he opened his medical practice in 1987. Doug had a way about him with patients that endeared him to many.
He could in no uncertain terms tell a patient when they needed to get with the program, but at the same time he could easily cry with them as well. He continued to serve his patients in Clare until January of 2024 when his health forced his retirement. Practicing medicine brought Doug great joy and satisfaction and it was extremely difficult for him to step away from it. That passion was followed closely by his love of hunting which was a byproduct of growing up in Gladwin. He had never hunted before moving to Gladwin but once he did, he took to it like a doctor on a stethoscope! He enjoyed hunting not only on his property in Clare, but also many other areas in the United States and even other continents with family and friends.
Doug married Cheryl Sweet on September 16, 2002 and she survives him.
In addition to Cheryl, he is survived by his mother, Dianne, of Gladwin; his children: Douglas Mienk, of Chicago; Tiffany Mienk, of Grand Rapids; Tom and Despoina Huber of Saginaw; Tammy and Mark Wilson of Gladwin; Ronald Barlow, of Gaylord; and Kristi and Andy Shakula of Lake, also his siblings, brothers: Roy and Brenda Mienk, Tom and Diane Mienk of Gladwin; and his sister, Janice Mienk and husband, Dennis Hall of Traverse City. He also had eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and many close friends. Doug was preceded in death by his son, Zachary, and his father, Roy Mienk. Doug will be sorely missed by his family and many very good friends. In keeping with Doug’s desires, his family will celebrate his life with a private gathering in his memory.
Arrangements were handled by the Clare Chapel of Stephenson-Wyman Funeral Home. On-line condolences may be left at www.stephenson- wyman.com.