Douglas Caulkins, 82, died on February 21, 2023, with his wife by his side in the Mayflower Health Center. A gathering in remembrance of Doug will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 2:00 pm at the Joe Rosenfeld Center, Room 101 located at Grinnell College, 1115 8 ^th Avenue, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Doug's honor may be sent in care of Cox-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service, PO Box 163, Grinnell, Iowa 50112, to benefit Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Drake Community Library. Cox-Smith Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Doug was born August 28, 1940, the son of David and Helen (Jones) Caulkins. He was raised in Rapid City, South Dakota. Doug and Lorna came to Grinnell in 1970, after he accepted a position in the Anthropology Department at Grinnell College and they soon became valued members of the community. During his tenure at the college, Doug was instrumental in establishing the Grinnell-in-London program, taking students to study in Britain and collaborating with them on research projects and publications. During and following his stint as interim director of Career Services, Doug led the effort to bring alumni to campus to engage with students about career paths that can grow out of a liberal arts degree. Both alums and students were enthusiastic about the class Doug taught on that topic, which attracted record numbers of students each semester. He mentored student researchers, and he headed the Wilson Program that helped students gain experience in business and entrepreneurship. He put his research into practice by providing support to numerous start-up businesses in the town of Grinnell. For example, Doug and Lorna's work and support were invaluable in the construction and launch of the Drake Public Library. Other projects were prairie restoration and the protection of Iowa's soil, trees, and wildlife. The couple also enjoyed sharing their home with a number of fortunate cats. Doug enriched the lives of many students who benefitted from his teaching and his kindness. Those who knew him, including eight close friends who shared a weekly potluck meal for over thirty years, will remember him with love and respect.