from Harnessracing.com

Lexington, KY — Doug Kistler, 73, of Lake Silkworth, Pa., died June 28, 2013, in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Mr. Kistler fell and broke his hip in late April and was recovering when he suffered a heart attack on June 28.

Mr. Kistler co-owned the trotting filly Coulantine, a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes champion who also won the inaugural edition of the Moni Maker Trot in 2005. Another stakes winner he owned was Dash Drive 2,1:58 ($184,033), a New York Sires Stakes and Lexington Grand Circuit stakes winner in 1992.

Doug Miller trained Mr. Kistler’s horses, which at one time raced under the banner of Kistler Brothers Standardbreds. Mr. Kistler attended yearling sales and could be found at Pocono Downs, especially on big race nights such as the Breeders Crown.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Mr. Kistler served in the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir, Va., and in Germany. He was employed in the telecommunications field, having received training at Southern New England Telephone Co. in Connecticut, and at the Bell Telephone facility in Cooperstown, N.Y. He worked at MCI during the company’s formative years.

He was a partner in Marketing Systems Development Corp. in Lyndhurst, N.J., for 20 years, and during that time made frequent trips to the Meadowlands. Electronic Data Systems purchased the company in 1988 and Mr. Kistler served as a consultant in Plano, Texas and London, England before retiring in 1993.

In retirement, in addition to owning Standardbreds, Mr. Kistler built a hotel and had a real estate business.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Hopkins Kistler; daughters, Gina Michelle (David) Barry and Delilah Lynne (Thomas) Michales; son, Douglas Charles Patrick; twin grandchildren, Evan Charles and Jillian Lilah Michales; and a brother, Dr. Dale (Dr. Sue Murahata).

Mr. Kistler’s corneas were donated to the PA Lions Northeast Eye Bank.

A memorial service will be held in August.

Memorial contributions may be made to the library of one’s choice or to the Lake Silkworth Ambulance Service, 31 Lake Ave., Hunlock Creek, PA 18621.