Obituary of Douglas John Ekbom

Douglas John Ekbom was born March 3, 1985 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Brookfield Academy and Bethel University in St. Paul, MN, obtaining a journalism degree.  Following graduation, he worked at ACL Homes in St. Paul, Spruce CPA in Waukesha, WI, and FLS Connect in St. Cloud, MN.  He enjoyed all sports- especially disc golf and regular golf, family vacations, playing his guitar, bike trips to Europe with his mom and dad, and following the Packers and Bucks and Brewers.

At age 7, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.  His faith grew and was nourished through his relationships with many good friends and cousins, and with the input from pastors at both Elmbrook Church and Epikos Church in Milwaukee, and more recently Northwest Bible Church in St. Michael, MN.  He publicly testified to his faith in Christ and was baptized in Lake Michigan in 2009.

In 2005, he was a member of a medical team that was called to Banda Aceh, Indonesia following the tsunami to provide care and support for survivors.  He called this trip “life changing.” Despite many personal struggles over the subsequent years, he loved the Lord and wanted to serve Him. On December, 5, 2017, he completed a treatment program, and wrote the following: “…I know that God has a plan for my life.  I intend to leave here with a new commitment to seeking God’s will for me.”   Three weeks later he was admitted to Regions Hospital with an acute occlusion of his abdominal aorta, requiring emergency surgery to restore blood flow. He overcame multiple post-op complications, but eventually underwent amputations of both legs. Following rigorous Physical Therapy by a supportive therapist, he was fitted with prostheses last summer, and began walking again.  He joined his father on a medical trip to Chogoria, Kenya in January 2019 where he participated in a two-day Amputee Clinic.  He helped in the fitting of 53 arm prosthetics, interacted with amputees and their families and disabled children, showing his stumps and how his own prosthetics fitted.  During the following week, he testified on the wards and in the clinics to God’s goodness and grace in his own life: “I have lost my legs, but have been given the gift of encouragement.  I want to bring you hope.  God is still good, and life is good with Him.”

He was called home by his Savior and Lord on July 2, 2019, also welcomed and reunited with his mom, Eva; his grandparents; and cousin, Mark Heinmets. Doug is survived by his father, Dr. Gregory Ekbom; and his aunts, uncles, and many cousins.

Acts 20:24  “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, July 11^th, 2019 with Visitation beginning at 9:30 A.M. in the Nazareth Chapel at the University of Northwestern, 3003 Snelling Avenue N., Arden Hills, Minnesota. Interment Service 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 13^th, 2019 at Wisconsin Memorial Park, 13235 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.