Douglas "Doug" Dean Dawson, 70, of Newton, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 surrounded by his loving family at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. A celebration of life service will be held at on Saturday, January 21, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. - 12 a.m. at the Newton American Legion Post #111 in Newton, Iowa. Doug was born in Marshalltown, Iowa to Francis and Marjorie (Allspach) Dawson. The family lived in the Baxter area and Doug attended school there. Following school Doug began working in residential construction and later became a construction foreman. He married Dixie Rankin on August 23, 1968 at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. The couple resided in Newton where they raised their 3 sons. Doug was an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing, hunting, and gardening. He also enjoyed training his mules for the jumping mule's competition. Those left to cherish Doug's memories are his wife Dixie Dawson of Newton, IA; sons David Dawson of Newton, IA, Robert Dawson of Newton, IA, and John Dawson of Newton, IA; grandchildren Bailey Dawson, Riley (Nick) Anderson, Drake Dawson, Dakota Dawson, and Jaiden Dawson; great-grandchildren Peyton, Kinzlee, and Caydence; brother Mark Vansice; sister Lola Stewart; and many nieces, nephews, and close friends. Doug was preceded in death by his parents; step-dad Bill Vansice; brother Ronald Dawson; sister Linda Harsh; and great-grandson Gage. Memorial contributions may be directed to Dixie Dawson, 309 Hazel Ave., Newton, Iowa, 50208. Fredregill Family Funeral Home, in Baxter, has been entrusted with the cremation care of Doug.