Dr. J. Douglas Badell

Dr. J. Douglas Badell, 92, died peacefully of natural causes, at the Life Care Center in Rochester on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

It is impossible to quantify how many lives he touched, but what can be measured is the level of wisdom, honesty, and depth of character that was impressed upon those lives by Dr. Joab Douglas Badell.

Doug's journey in this world was one that was spawned from astute determination and raw will to rise from the depths of despair, darkness, and poverty.

Born to Christian Assyrian immigrants, life began under a way of living that was horrifically different than that of most American households. Doug, then known as Joab, Jr., would decide at a very early age that he would do whatever it took to choose a legacy for himself that would differ greatly from that of his upbringing.

On one auspicious summer day, Joab and his friends ran into a charming young girl from Chicago and her friends while she and her parents were vacationing at their cottage at Bass Lake near his hometown of Knox, Indiana. They asked the girls if they'd like a ride, and that is where the love story of the future Doug and Jan Badell began. They married in 1955 and the hard struggle of building a lasting legacy began.

Having excelled at wrestling and football at Knox High School, and possessing a keen interest in the biological sciences, Doug applied and was accepted to Indiana University and became a member of the IU wrestling team. In order to afford the tuition of $15 a credit hour, he sold plasma regularly. While Jan stayed with her parents in Chicago to work and care for their infant son, Doug lived with a local family in exchange for doing house and grounds work. The Robinson family and the Badell’s maintained a lifelong friendship, as Doug and Jan never forgot their part in their journey.

Living apart from Jan with another baby on the way, Doug left IU after his junior year and enrolled in a physical therapy certification program at the Little Company of Mary Hospital, a division of the Cleveland Clinic, allowing the young family to live together in Akron, Ohio. It wasn't long after working as a physical therapist that Doug applied, and was accepted, to the Indiana University School of Dentistry. Times were lean and tough for the family of four, but Doug, remembering his promise to himself as a youngster, graduated fourth in his dental school class, earning him an invitation into the coveted Omicron Kappa Upsilon society, reserved for only the very top dental candidates across the country. He would practice excellence in dentistry for 55 years, being there for so many patients during blizzards, trauma accidents, and tough times for patients who couldn't afford to pay with anything but a dozen fresh eggs or a bushel of fresh sweetcorn. He also served the Plymouth hospital for dental emergencies, as well as the Catherine Kasper Home and other area nursing homes, to treat patients on-site.

While in dental school, he and his friend Bill Teschner and a few others pooled their money to rent an airplane weekly for lessons. This was the beginning of a lifelong love of flying. In 1973, he purchased his Beechcraft Bonanza V35, which he named Tootse Roll. He and Jan flew all over the country, joining a group of other dentists who fly, The Flying Dentists, for many years of fun and fellowship. Regional and local airports were Doug's favorite hangout spots, and the Plymouth airport was a second home to him for many years, so much so that the staff honored him by naming his longtime hangar after him in 2015.

Early in his life, Doug was asked to consider becoming a member of the Fraternal Order of the Masons. The promise of "making good men better" was an honorable path in Doug's eyes and he took the oath seriously, ultimately rising to the level of Shriner and continuing with the values and philanthropy of the Order all through his life.

Another significant area of giving of Doug’s life was his humanitarian mission for the Honduran people. For nearly 20 years, Doc would fill his Bonanza with medicines he would gather from facilities and other health professionals in town and fly to San Pedro Sula, Honduras in January each year. He would find a local to assist him and would set up a makeshift dental hospital to tend to the dire dental needs of the people. He would give away everything he brought with him, right down to his extra shoes and clothes. The people of "Teguce" would come to know Doc was coming and grew fond of him and his generosity and help, just as he was so enamored with them.

Doug loved riding his Harley Davidsons, was a ham radio operator, a certified scuba diver, an avid snow skier, and loved playing bridge in his older years, but his love for the game of golf was a serious pastime to him. He spent many years chasing a scratch handicap, achieving as low as a 3, playing at some of the most renowned courses in the world with Jan. They were commendable opponents, winning many championships and tournaments over the years. In 1993, being semi-retired and tired of frigid winters, they headed west to Mesa, Arizona, to spend half the year in the abundant sunshine, so they could play golf year-round. Doug would make Mesa his home half the year right up to this past winter and he loved it there, having accumulated many friends over the years. He and Jan loved Billy Graham revivals and enjoyed visiting the parish of Dr. Robert Schuller once they established roots in Arizona.

Doug left us so many gifts through his service, his talents, his knowledge, and his leadership. Undoubtably, though, most powerful and enduring legacy that Doug left on this earth has to be the lessons and fortitude he instilled in his three children. Always teaching lessons and giving stern advice and strict upbringing, the lessons endure in each of our hearts like a transcription:

Follow the Lord God with all of your heart ;

If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well;

Some things are just a means to an end;

Live a life with purpose;

And never leave your putt short.

Even in his 90s, he was still teaching, advising, showing a strong presence of head of the family, with two of his children following in his footsteps as dentists themselves. Each of his eight grandchildren drank up his lifeblood of excellence -- two physicians, two dentists, a geneticist, a physician’s assistant professor, a psychologist, and an engineer. The Badell legacy is already evident and possibly glowing even brighter in the next generation of his six great-grandchildren, with many more glimmers on the horizon.... "Out of an acorn, a forest grows."

Doug was preceded in death by his beautiful wife Janice in 2017. In 2018, he joined in a Christian marital union with Rose Vernon, his loyal and devoted companion, who survives. Also surviving are his three children, Jeff Badell (Lisa,) Kim Wilson (Brad,) and Pam Fasteen (Jim,) as well as eight grandchildren: Brant Wilson (Jaclyn,) Jillian Brady (Scott,) Pete Wilson (Morgan,) Jay Badell (Bethany,) Hailey McKinley (Tanner,) Tess Fasteen (Chris Ladaika,) Jack Fasteen (Maitland,) and Chet Fasteen. Six great-grandchildren, Adam, Collins, Ila, Theo, Kendall, and Oliver live to carry on his purpose. As Doug would say "and the beat goes on."

Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026 from 3:30-5PM at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN 46563. Memorial services will immediately follow at 5PM with Masonic funeral rites and Pastor Dennis Wenzel officiating.

Doug will be laid to rest with Janice in a private graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to Shriners Children's, Attn: Office of Philanthropy, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

Condolences can be left for the family at www.johnson-danielson.com