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Daniel Bruce Angus

1932-2015

On the evening of April 29, 2015, Daniel Bruce Angus peacefully passed away in Holladay, Utah after a long illness.

 

Dan was born Nov. 23, 1932, at St. Joseph Hospital in Ashland, Wisconsin to Daniel George and Mary Berweger Angus. He was a fourth generation member of the Angus family from Madeline Island, Wisconsin. His great grandfather, John Daniel Angus, first settled on Madeline Island in 1835. Dan spent his youth on Madeline Island, a place he carried close to his heart throughout his lifetime and world travels.

 

Dan lived an eventful 82 years. After graduating from Ashland High School in 1950, he joined the U.S. Air Force and honorably served as a medic in England during the Korean War. Upon returning home, he ventured to Alaska and worked on the DEW Line radar network. He loved to reminisce about his adventures as a young man in Alaska - another place that was special to him.

 

Dan graduated from Heald College in San Francisco, California and later from the University of Utah, where he also completed his post-graduate work. He married Sharon Brown on Dec. 14, 1961, in Boulder, Colorado. Together they raised six daughters. He encouraged his daughters to study hard but to take time to enjoy life and instilled in them the belief that they could achieve and be anything they wanted.

 

Dan excelled in his careers. He was active in business and community affairs in Bayfield, Wisconsin while working at Port Superior and on Madeline Island, where he served as La Pointe Town Chairman and operated Island Grocery with family. He travelled as an auditor for JC Penney Co. and then later took his young family to Guam, where he designed and built an IBM computer center. After moving to Utah, he became a business professor at Westminster College, where he was a Trustee and developed several masters' programs. He loved teaching and mentoring and was fond and proud of his students.

 

Dan was a lifelong learner and a man of diverse interests and pursuits. He spent his life studying fields that interested not only him but also others and loved to have meaningful discussions across a wide variety of subjects. He had a great appreciation for food, art, music, and different cultures. He was passionate about genealogy and family history and was proud of his ancestors' contributions and accomplishments.

 

Dan had an enduring appreciation for the natural world. Beginning at a young age, he spent a lot of time outdoors on Madeline Island and Lake Superior while he hunted, trapped, sailed, and fished with his father. He especially loved Big Bay.

 

Dan's will to live and to contribute, despite many years of sickness and pain, were an inspiration. Up until several weeks before his death, he was immersed in formulating his plan to start a foundation to protect, preserve, and responsibly promote Lake Superior and the Great Lakes region as an expression of his love for the area and its people.

 

Dan genuinely cared about people as individuals and had a deep desire to learn about them and their interests. He would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. He had a tremendous impact on many lives and will be remembered for his generosity, strength, and incredible spirit.

 

Dan loved his family very much and adored his grandchildren. He is survived and will be missed by daughters, Sherry (Jeff) Wilson of Sandy, Utah, Heather (Mark) Angus of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, Jennifer (Ryan) McNair of West Jordan, Utah, Liz (Kyle Power) Angus of Sandy, Utah, Sarah (Ryan) Clancy of Gulfport, Mississippi, and Rebecca (Jared) Thompson of North Salt Lake, Utah; beloved grandchildren, Fiona, Victoria and Ian McNair, Sophia, Ava and Lincoln Thompson; former wife, Sharon Brown Angus of Salt Lake City, Utah; siblings, Judy (Bob) Hodell of Trego, Wisconsin; Cynthia (Harold) Nye of Greenfield, Wisconsin; Russ (Maryann) Angus of Bellingham, Washington; seven nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and extended family and friends.

 

He was preceded in death by his father; mother; brother, Curtis; and mother-in-law, Virginia Brown.

 

Words cannot fully express how much we appreciate the many people who helped care for our dad during his last years, including the staff at the George E. Wahlen VA Hospital, the William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veterans Home, Holladay Health Care, and Brighton Hospice. A special thanks goes to Russon Brothers Mortuary.

 

Dan will be laid to rest at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Madeline Island in La Pointe, Wisconsin in mid-September. In lieu of flowers, please make a memory with your loved ones or consider a donation to the Madeline Island Historic Preservation Association, 100 Island Lane, PO Box 250, La Pointe WI 54850, or the Madeline Island Museum at madelineislandmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org.

 

We wish to thank everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers.

 

Daniel Bruce Angus

- Born November 23, 1932 in Ashland, WI.

- Dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend.

- Passed away April 29, 2015 in Holladay, UT

Copyright © 2015, Daniel Bruce Angus. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2015, Daniel Bruce Angus. All rights reserved. 

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