Daniel Van Gesen

    Daniel James Van Gesen, 59, passed away on Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, at his home after a valiant battle with cancer. He was surrounded by those he loved. Funeral services will be held at 1 o’clock this afternoon (Oct. 2) in the Snowflake Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 900 S. 200 West. Viewings were planned from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Owens-Livingston Mortuary Heritage Chapel, 84 E. 19th South in Snowflake, and one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the R.V. “Mike” Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake.
   Dan was born April 26, 1950, in Rome, N.Y., 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 LDS church. He moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, where he received a Master’s 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.
   Survivors include 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.
   He was preceded in death by his sister, Gretchen Van Gesen, and his parents.