Daniel Richard Wegner, a former Sitka teacher, passed away at home in Ocean View, Hawaii, Dec. 28, 2012, after a battle with esophageal cancer. He was 66.
He was cremated and his ashes will be scattered at various meaningful places. A private family commemoration is planned.
Dan was born May 17, 1946, in Saginaw, Mich., and grew up and graduated from high school in Bridgeport. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Michigan University.
He taught and counseled students in Sitka, where he met Dona Foster; they married Dec., 11, 1981.
Dan loved the outdoors and had a great passion for fishing and hunting. He hunted with a rifle and bow, and had trophies from Alaska, Canada, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania and South Africa.
Dan and Dona built homes in Alaska, Hawaii and Wyoming. They traveled extensively whenever they could get away from Aloha Protea Farms. He was known as “Dan the Flower Man,” and produced and packaged gift boxes of protea from Hawaii and sent them all over North America. The flowers helped brighten people’s lives.
He is survived by his wife, Dona Foster of Ocean View, and three children, Daniel (Mary) of Freeland, Mich., Michelle ( Matthew) of Medina, Tenn., and Amy Button of Houston, Texas, and her mother Linda.
One brother, Bill (Judith) of Saginaw; four granddaughters, Madison, Larkin, Hannah and Karleigh; and his hunting buddies and other friends also survive.
Dona’s family, of Clearmont, Wyo., includes her parents, Ralph and Terri Foster, and sisters Peggy, Brenda and Rebecca.
Dan’s parents, Harold and Dora, preceded him in death.