Douglas Charles Gernler

Douglas “Doug” Charles Gernler, son of the late William and Mary (Tafa) Gernler, was born on October 28, 1930 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and passed away on April 2, 2013 in the Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, Missouri, following a short illness, at 82 years of age.
Doug grew up and was raised local style in Hawaii by his beautiful Samoan mother and his German father. They raised two sons and three daughters.
Doug was an avid swimmer and surfer. In his teen years, he was training for the Olympics but chose rather to volunteer to serve his country. On December 8, 1947 Doug enlisted in the Hawaii Air National Guard. On September 25, 1950 he enlisted with the United States Army and was honorably discharged on April 21, 1955. While serving his country, Doug toured in Korea and Japan and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, and Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Stars. He later worked in Honolulu for a short time and when the government called for volunteers to help clean up Eniwetok Island, Doug signed up and was there for over a year.
He later worked in construction jobs in Oahu. He was united in marriage to Mary Ebenez. Five children were born to this union. When Mary passed away with cancer and pneumonia, Doug was devastated. He remained single for several years.
He later met and married Sarah “Sally” Ennis on July 23, 1990 in Honolulu. They were married for twenty-two happy years. He loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren like they were his own and she loves his as well.
Doug and Sarah made their home in the Mtn. Grove, Missouri area for several years.
Besides his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
He is survived by his loving wife: Sarah Gernler of their home in Mtn. Grove; his five children: Siliala Castillo and her husband, Kimo, Douglas M. Gernler and his wife, Kapiolani, Philip Gernler, Tisha Gernler and Zachary Gernler and his wife, Aurora; all of Kaneoke, Hawaii; six grandchildren: Justeen, Jeremy, Jaz, Josh, Dayton, and Dana; six great-grandchildren: Kahoku, Kemy, Jade, Haylee, Shylynn, and Kyra; four step-children: Maria Colaccino and her husband, Tom, Charlene Casey, Daniel Casey, Jr. and his wife, Melinda, and Catherine Bushong and her husband, Rob; eleven step-grandchildren: Tommaso, Carmelo, Vernon, Andrea, Kaitlynn, Charles, Gabriel, Jennifer, Cody, Amanda, and Megan; eleven step-great-grandchildren: Maci, Landon, Ashley, Mya, Bethany, Shaden, Bristol, Evangeline, Alexis, Brooklyn, and Tanner; a half-brother: Charles Gernler of Honolulu, Hawaii; and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss him very much.