Daniel Van Gesen

Daniel James Van Gesen, 59, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2009 in his home after a valiant battle with cancer. He was surrounded by those he loved. Funeral services will be held Friday, October 2, 2009 at 1:00 PM in the Snowflake Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 900 South 200 West. There will be a viewing on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at the Owens-Livingston Mortuary from 6 until 8 PM. Dan was born April 26, 1950 in Rome, New York to Edward Wilfred Van Gesen and Lora Mae Ramsey. He attended college at Oswego State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in English. While attending Oswego Dan was converted to and baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University where he received a Masters of Library Science. It was there he met and married Paula Nadine Farnsworth whom he called "his hero." Dan and his family lived for a time in Colorado and Iowa but he served for 27 years in the Snowflake Unified School district as a teacher, librarian, educational administrator and mentor. Dan's high spirited and energetic personality enriched the lives of all who knew him. Dan dearly loved his wife, children and grandchildren as well as his extended family, good friends, and good books. He will be greatly missed. Dan is preceded in death by his sister, Gretchen Van Gesen and his parents. He is survived by his wife, Paula; his son Daniel James Van Gesen Jr.; his two daughters, Elizabeth Diana Roberts and Amanda Kathryn Bailey; his daughter-in-law Michelle Grogan Van Gesen; his sons-in-law, Michael Roberts and Mark Bailey; his three grandchildren, Jordan and Jessica Van Gesen and Abigail Roberts; his brother, David Van Gesen; his sister, Glenda Van Gesen and many other beloved friends and family. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday - October 3, 2009 at the Snowflake Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Owens Livingston Mortuary - Heritage Chapel - 84 E. 19th South in Snowflake and 1 hour prior to services at the Church. Interment will be held in the R.V. "Mike" Ramsay Memorial Cemetery.