Douglas Hall MacLean

On the morning of June 17, 2021, a thief known as a brain bleed, took the life of Douglas Hall Maclean. Doug was 78 years old. He was a loving husband and father, an oil and natural gas executive and sportsman. He died peacefully at home with family.

Doug was born on October 28th,1942, in Fresno, California to Vida Dale Julian MacLean and Robert Govan MacLean. In his youth, the MacLeans relocated to Salt Lake City across the street from the Sonntag family. Shortly thereafter Doug fell in love and married the girl across the street, Maurine ‘Renie’ Sonntag, on October 4, 1960. Renie is the daughter of Molly Christensen Sonntag and Walter A Sonntag.

When Doug and Renie were at the U of U, they spent summers working at Jackson Lake Lodge, Wyoming. Douglas ‘Doug’ is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maurine ‘Renie’ Sonntag MacLean; his son, John, daughters Julian, Katherine, Heather, 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was buried in a private family ceremony on Monday June 21st at Larkin Sunset Lawn in Salt Lake City, Utah. Throughout his life, Doug was known to find great humor in things. In the Army he experienced a couple of minor disciplinary actions for his inability to hold back laughter. As a result, he said he became a skilled potato peeler. He attended the University of Utah and drove a sporty white Austin Healey. After graduation, Doug worked steadfastly in the oil and natural gas industry for 44 years. His sports car was replaced with a family station wagon. Throughout his career, Doug ate many exotic and unknown things placed in front of him by hosts, all while maintaining a sincere smile. The one exception was due to accidental ingestion of a large ball of wasabi which was followed by coughing and water. The smile came later when retelling the story of his host trying to intercept before the wasabi ball passed his lips.

Doug’s career led Renie and their 4 children to Denver, San Francisco, and Houston. Doug was proud and supporting of Renie’s medical foundation and her work in the Russian Far East. Upon retirement, Doug’s love of friends, golf and his competitive nature returned him to SLC and Hidden Valley Country Club. Doug enjoyed opportunities to play with notables including Clint Eastwood, ‘Spanky’, Leslie Nielsen and President George H.W. Bush. Doug was especially happy to share the days that he shot less than his age and came home with his winnings in two dollar bills.

Doug will be remembered for his hearty laugh, loving and energetic hello’s, his generosity, service to his family friends and neighbors, integrity, his example and Christlike behavior.

We are grateful for his peaceful passing, the exceptional medical care Doug received at the University of Utah Hospital, and for the friends and family who have sent their love. His family has felt his presence and are comforted by expressing their love for him.