Andrew Donovan Daniels age 82 of Tracy passed away Thursday, May 5, 2016 at his home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with an extended illness. Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 14 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Marshall. Visitation is 4:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, May 9 at the Tracy Area Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date in the Tracy Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Andrew Donovan Daniels was born November 25, 1933 on the family farm near Clear Lake in Shetek Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Azro and Della (Greenman) Daniels. He was named after Dr. A. D. Hoidale who delivered him. Their house burned down when Andy was four and the family moved into Tracy. Andy attended Shetek country school and graduated from Tracy High School in 1951. He enlisted in the Army in January 1953. Andy was stationed in Fort Bragg, NC, and served as an Army paratrooper with the 82nd Airborn Division. While in the Army, he married Shirley Van Avermaet on June 13, 1955 in Tracy. Andy was honorably discharged in 1956. He worked for the city street department and farmed north of Garvin for several years. Andy was baptized on October 15, 1959 in Brookings, South Dakota. In 1962 he began working for NSP Power Company and worked for them for nearly 30 years. Andy was happiest when he was with his family and when he was on his hobby farm. Andy truly enjoyed tinkering with his toys and fixing things that were broken. He will be missed by many. His children and family look forward to seeing him on earth very soon. Andy was a member of the Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Marshall. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, anything mechanical, and working on his hobby farm. Andy received his pilot’s license and loved flying his own private plane. He was a great story teller and had a great sense of humor and great wit. Andy loved children and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Andy is survived by his wife Shirley; children: Barry (Nancy) of New Ulm, Vicki (Keith) Hanson of Hudson, WI, Joel (Hope) of Marshall, Neil (Shelley) of Balaton, David (Becky) of Marshall, Andrea (Doug) Bosacker of Monticello, Mark (Mary) of Monticello, Kim (Dona) of Tracy, Dana (Rick) Kjerstad of Elizabeth, CO, and Kelli (Mark) Billman of Denver, CO; 22 grandchildren; 21 great children with 2 on the way; siblings Amos (Jeri) Daniels and Betty Pool; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Edward and Archie, and sisters Evelyn, Nellie, and Irene.
Sending my love and prayers to Shirley, Amos, Betty, Barry, Vicki, Joel, Neil, David, Andrea, Mark, Kim, Dana, Kelli, and all the rest of Andy’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and others who loved him. I will always remember my uncle Andy with fond memories and love. God bless us all.
Family of Andy Daniels, Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. Cherish all of your wonderful memories. Don and Jan Fuhrmann
As a young man I remember my mother, Evelyn Swanjord, introducing me to Uncle Andy. She described Andy and his life as one of responsible and hard-working. I was impresses by her description of how he worked on construction crews building the huge towers holding the cross country power lines. Things like that stick in a young person’smemory.
My family and I wish to offer our condolences to Andy’s entire family and the rest of the Daniels on the passing of this great person and family man.
Our deepest sympathy to all the Daniels family.
So sorry for your loss. It will be wonderful to see Andy in the resurrection when there will be “no more sickness and death” and all things will be made new again! How we long for that time as I am sure Andy did too. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
We send our condolences to Andy & Shirley’s family, to Amos, Betty and all the Daniels, Pool and Clark Families. Hold onto your memories of a dear person. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time around Andy, since my parents lived out west (California and Washington State). But on our visits “back east” to see family in Tracy and northern Iowa, I will always remember Andy’s sweet smile. I hope some of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren inherited that smile.
Sincerely, Cousin, Helen (Visker) & Ron Jeske
We send our condolences to Andy & Shirley’s family, to Amos, Betty and all the Daniels, Pool and Clark families. Hold onto your memories of a dear person. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time around Andy, since my parents lived out west (California and Washington State). But on our visits “back east” to see family in Tracy and northern Iowa, I will always remember Andy’s sweet smile. I hope some of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren inherited that smile.
Sincerely, Helen (Visker) & Ron Jeske
Uncle Andy’s big brother Ed (my dad) was always very proud of Andy. When we saw the Air National Guard’s “Flying Boxcars” passing over our house, he would always say, “Those are the planes your Uncle Andy jumped out of” As kids visiting Tracy, Andy taught us the proper mechanics of a Parachute Landing Fall (PLF). Before you knew it, we were all jumping off of anything and everything we could climb up onto. Also, I remember riding on his big motorcycle up and down Front Street. What a thrill! ‘So glad my sister Lynell and I got to visit Uncle Andy and Aunt Shirley not that long ago. To Uncle Amos, Aunt Betty and all of our cousins and their offspring, please accept our condolences.
Love, Dan, Paul, Tom, Lynell and our spouses.
Thanks Tom for expressing our love for Uncle Andy and for all of our wonderful extended family – past (passed), present, and future. Our new and first grandson reminds me of Dad (Ed), Uncle Andy and the Daniels Family. Maybe I am the only one who sees it–don’t know. He is 5 months old as I write this. I also saw them immediately in Dan’s son Scott when he was born. Love to you all with all of our heart(s).
My sympathy goes out to the Daniels family .