Obituary of Ira John Doell

Ira J. Doell (85) died June 5, 2017 at his residence, under the loving care of his family and Hospice.

Ira was born on January 10, 1932 and grew up in Queens, NY. He married his high-school sweetheart, Ann Ruth Jennings, in 1952.  He served in the Army from 1953-1955. He then worked for the General Electric Company across the eastern US in various engineering management positions, achieving his undergraduate degree from Bridgeport Engineering Institute and his MS in Industrial Administration from Union College in Schenectady along the way.  After 39 years of service, he retired from GE in Schenectady, New York.  Ira and Ann moved to Skidaway Island near Savannah, GA in 1988 to the home that Ira designed for them in the years prior to retirement.

Ira often stated that he felt much-blessed by God and knew that Jesus is his Savior and the guiding light in his life. Near the end of his life, Ira was clear that he felt blessed to have had such a long and happy life and was “ready to go home.”  He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Schenectady and the Mountain Grove Memorial Church in Huletts Landing on Lake George, NY, near their summer home.

He is survived by his wife, Ann, of Rexford, daughter Laura and son-in-law John Phillips of Sand Point, ID, daughter Lynn and son-in-law Ken Manning of Rexford, NY; son Glenn and daughter-in-law Judith of Center Valley, PA, five grandchildren, Timothy, Allison, Julianna, Paul and Hannah; sister and brother-in-law Sonja and Bill Stratford of Southampton, NY, and brother and sister-in-law Warren and Val Janda of Pine Bush, NY.

Ira felt that Ann, his bride of 64 years, was the heart and soul of their family, always creating a loving home, especially in their earlier career paths, when they moved often.  Their children were each born in different states, and he took great joy in their lives and activities.  Despite their geographic distances, Ira always maintained close and loving relationships with his children and grandchildren through frequent visits, phone calls and e-mails.  He was very proud of their accomplishments and took great delight in sharing key milestones in their lives with his extended family and friends.

He loved their summer camp at Lake George, NY and their activities and friends there.

Ira asked a special remembrance for many friends at The Landings on Skidaway Island, and their weekly bible study "Brothers-in-Christ," his Huletts bible study group that met at the firehouse each summer, and the bible study Ira initiated when he moved to Coburg Village. He appreciated all his friends and the study and time together that nurtured him in his faith.

A memorial service and celebration of Ira’s life will be held at Coburg Village in Rexford on June 9th at 2:30pm, followed by a brief reception.  A remembrance for his Huletts family and friends will be held later this summer and ashes will be interred in the Memorial Garden at the Mountain Grove Memorial Church in Huletts Landing, NY.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ira’s memory to the Mountain Grove Memorial Church (c/o Bruce Young, PO Box 165, Huletts Ldg NY, 12841), Zion Lutheran Church (153 Nott Terrace, Schenectady NY, 12308) or Hospice (The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd, Albany, NY 12208).