Douglas Nygard

Douglas Arthur Nygard, 87, of St. Peter, MN passed away peacefully on August 24, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Mankato. Doug was born on March 1, 1931 in Saint Peter to Phyllis and Lloyd Nygard. He graduated from Saint Peter High School in 1949 and from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.S. in Physics in 1953. After graduation, Doug joined the US Navy as an officer and earned his Naval Aviation wings in 1955. He spent time on active duty and transitioned to the US Navy Reserves where he continued to serve until he retired in 1978 with the rank of Commander. In 1967, he married ReVae (Carlson) Nygard of Saint Peter, MN. Married for over 50 years, together they created a wonderful life, home, and family in Saint Peter. Doug worked for AC Spark Plug and General Motors as an engineer working on guidance systems and trained the Royal Air Force in England on a guidance system program. He also worked at Sperry Univac as a Naval System Engineer, the clinic administrator at the St Peter Clinic, and at Wal-Mart as an assembly operator. Doug earned the rank of Eagle Scout while in high school and was later awarded the prestigious Order of the Arrow by the Boy Scouts of America. He played trumpet and coronet and marched with the Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corp of St Peter, MN. He was a life member of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation in Pensacola, FL. He was very active in many local civic and fraternal organizations. He served as president of the Rotary Club, and was a member of the American Legion and Red Men Club. Doug served as the Master of Nicollet Lodge No. 54 in 1985 and was honored with the Hiram Award by the Lodge in 2007. He also served as Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Minnesota, Grand Illustrious Master of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Minnesota, and Commander of Ivanhoe Commandery No. 31. He is survived by his loving wife of over 50 years, ReVae (Carlson) Nygard; his children, Don Nygard of Panama City, FL and Jennifer (Jack) Roberts of Le Sueur, MN. He is also survived by his three granddaughters, Skylar and Baylee Nygard and Jessica Roberts. Funeral Service will be 11:00am Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter. Visitation will be 4:00pm – 7:00pm Tuesday, August 28 at the St. Peter Funeral Home with a Masonic Service at 7:00pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at church Wednesday. Burial will be 11:45am Thursday, August 30th at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Naval Aviation Foundation Museum in Pensacola, FL www.NavalAviationFoundation.org  or the Shriners Hospital for Children in Minneapolis, MN https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/minneapolis.