Douglas Trent Babcock (77), a veteran of the U.S. Army and an award-winning investigator for the U.S. Government, claimed the promise of his baptism due to kidney and heart failure as well as sepsis on March 8, 2025 in Lafayette, Colorado. Doug was born on September 7, 1947 in Norton, Kansas to Russell and Celia Babcock. Doug had one brother—Monte. Doug graduated from high school in 1965 in Beaver City, Nebraska and then went to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where, in 1970, he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in political science. On October 9, 1976, at Faith Lutheran Church in Golden, Colorado, he married Vaneta. They had two children—Kaarin and David.

Doug worked for the U.S. Government for 25 years (including his military service). During his military service, he was deployed to Korea. After that, he was an investigator for both the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Education’s Student Loans Division. He earned an Investigator Achievement Award, and later, in September of 1996, he retired.

Doug’s parents owned a farm near Beaver City, Nebraska, and Doug was a member of the First United Methodist Church there for the first 25 years of his life. Volunteer work was important to Doug, so he started a feed the homeless ministry and gave out peanut butter sandwiches from his pickup truck. He was a member of the Furnas County Honor Guard which performs military honors at funerals for veterans. Doug and Vaneta continued going back to the farm, and Doug also enjoyed other travels with Vaneta, pulling their trailer across the U.S. Doug loved storytelling, and he had some great stories. He also volunteered at church. He loved tinkering, fixing things, and remodeling.

Doug is predeceased by his parents, Russell and Celia Babcock, and by his brother, Monte Babcock. He is survived by his wife, Vaneta Babcock; his daughter and son-in-law, Kaarin and Tim Jacobson; his son and daughter-in-law, David and Kisha Babcock; and his grandchildren, Izzabella, Jaxon, and Tyler Babcock and Sarah and Anna Jacobson. He is also survived by his cousins: Karla Warner, Phillip Babcock, Kenneth Babcock, Mark Simmons, Jan McGuirk, and Vickie Dawson. Additionally, he is survived by their spouses: Fred Warner, Valerie Babcock, Sidonia Babcock, Diane Simmons, Laurie (Roger) Babcock, and James McGuirk. Doug is also survived by nine nieces and nephews.


A Liturgy of Resurrection for Doug will be held at Lutheran Church of Hope on March 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. The liturgy will be webcasted live and archived for later viewings at www.lchope.org/watch. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Organ Fund/Building Fund of Lutheran Church of Hope here or by mailing to 1305 W. 10th Avenue, Broomfield, CO 80020. Gifts in Doug’s memory may also be given to the Southern Valley Alumni Scholarship Fund in Beaver City, Nebraska are welcome.