Daniel O. German, Sr.'s Obituary
A Celebration of Life Service will be held for Daniel Ora German, Sr., 1:00 PM, Sunday, December 5th, at Columbia Funeral Home. A Reception will be held at the St. Helens Elks Lodge following the Service. Dan passed away November 24th at a local Portland hospital with his family by his side. He was 73 years old.
Daniel Ora German was born, October 19, 1937 in Borger, Texas to Daniel Westley and Jennie Matilda Franks, the oldest of 6 children. His father served in the US Army and the family moved around the Northwest before arriving in St. Helens in 1952. Dan graduated from St. Helens High School in 1955. While in high school Dan worked for Columbia Funeral Home and after graduation went on to the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in San Francisco where he graduated with his Funeral Director and Embalmer's license in 1960. "Digger Dan" still holds this license today. He served funeral homes in the Portland, Forest Grove and St. Helens area for many years. Dan, "Tinker" became a truck driver, owner/operator building logging roads for over 42 years, retiring in 2006. Before this time he married Marlys Linette Swanson, December 24, 1957 in St. Helens, Oregon.
Among the things he enjoyed were playing the guitar, spending time with his family and playing cribbage. Dan was a lifetime member of the St. Helens Elks lodge, BPOE 1999 and in 1959 received the Key Man of the Year Award from the St. Helens Jaycees. Dan was also a member of the Oregon Dump Truck Association.
Dan is survived by his wife of 52 years; Marlys, children; Shelly Beardsley and husband Jim of North Plains, Dan German, Jr. of Portland, Scott German of Warren and Sandra Hull and husband Chris of Eugene, 11 grandchildren, 3 brothers; Kenny, Larry, Ted and sis Kathy Wallace, all of Toledo, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his brother Jim.
Online condolences can be made to the family at: www.columbaifh.com
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