Our beloved boss passed away and he will be greatly missed. We are thankful for his life and for sharing his wisdom with us so we can continue the business that he created that has served so many. RIP Doug, we love you.
The legendary Douglas Raymond Farnik, age 70, passed away Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, from a severe heart attack at his home in Joshua Tree.
Doug was born in Havre, Montana, on Feb. 23, 1948, son of Joseph and Dorothy Farnik.
He was raised on a farm 8 miles north of a small rural town, Hingham, population 150.
He loved animals: cows, pigs, chickens, his horse Sye and especially dogs. He helped his dad on the wheat farm from an early age, learning to operate all kinds of equipment. His mother, Dorothy, started him playing the keyboards at age 9, going 100 miles one way to Great Falls once a week for lessons. Doug played organ at Inverness Supper Club with his mother on Saturday nights when he was a teenager. He continued to perform and played almost every weekend and New Year’s Eve until recent years.
He graduated high school from Hingham High in 1966. He played basketball, did many science projects and acted in several plays. His high school selected Doug to go to Montana Boys State. American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.
He attended the College of Great Falls and the University of Montana in Missoula to pursue his pharmacy degree while playing music at country clubs and bars, making many lifelong friends. In Missoula, the band OPUS 3 was formed. In 1969, the OPUS 3 moved to the LA area to join a show band called The Rising Generation, which toured the United States and Canada and appeared with Tennessee Ernie Ford and Red Skelton. The Rising Generation did a USO tour during the Vietnam War where he played in Guam, the Philippines, Korea and Japan.
In 1972, he began his career in the appliance/central air, construction business, which he has been currently running for over 45 years. In 1983, he married the love of his life, JoNell, while living in Whittier. In 1990, they moved to Joshua Tree, and continued to live in both cities for 28 years.
He enjoyed cooking, reading, gardening, entertaining, traveling, mentoring, solving problems, building houses and listening to jazz music and was a private pilot. His travels and cruises took him all over the world and he especially enjoyed the Czech Republic’s food and beer; that was where his grandfather immigrated from. Most of all, Doug enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially the grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving wife, JoNell; his children, Jennifer Ciccone (Harold), Jimmy Meyer, Melody Farnik and Billy Meyer (Sarah); his brothers Jerome (Marilyn) and Michael (Denise); nine grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Eddy and his favorite dog, Togo.
A celebration of Doug’s life will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Sportsman’s Club at 6225 Sunburst St., in Joshua Tree.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Doug to his daughter’s nonprofit: animalactionleague.us or P.O. Box 1413, Joshua Tree, CA 92252.