Dan Robert DeBoer
March 8, 1968 ~ July 31, 2013
Dan Robert DeBoer
Biography of Dan Robert DeBoer - by Jan and Erika DeBoer
Born: March 8, 1968 Died: July 31, 2013
Dan Robert was born on March 8, 1968 and was welcomed by his parents, Bob and Marilyn DeBoer, and his siblings, Randy, Rhonda and Karla.
When Dan was 21 months old, his mother passed away from cancer. During the next few years Dan was loved and cared for by Dad, his siblings, and Mrs. Koster who came each day to take care of Dan and Karla while Dad was at work and Randy and Rhonda were in school. When Dan was five, Dad married Oveta who became “Mom” to Dan. A couple of years later Dan became a big brother to Kristi and a new family was complete.
Dan attended Denver Christian Schools for most of his education. Dan was not a scholar per se; his intelligence was in knowing how things work, how things go together, and getting things to run. And he was good at it. He helped Dad and Mom with projects at their home and at the cabin, and helped his friends with their projects as well. Dan was generous with his talents and time.
Sister Karla was especially close to Dan. They were close in age, and you generally spoke of them together – Dan and Karla this or that. They looked after each other, and spent a lot of time together, even sharing a home at the time of Karla’s accident in 1991. Sister Rhonda was also close to Dan since she took care of him so much during the years after their mother passed away. Rhonda was a mother figure for Dan during those years.
Dan’s ten year marriage to Kim Sayler began in 1992. Together they were blessed with two children: Erika – born in 1994, and Alex – born in 1998. Dan was a proud father and he loved Erika and Alex.
Sadly, Dan with the rest of the family was no stranger to loss. In addition to losing his mother as a toddler, his sister Karla died in 1991, sister Rhonda in 1996, and brother Randy in 2004.
In 2003, Dan began a seven year marriage to Carrie Bake.
Dan loved the mountains and going to the family cabin. He spent countless time exploring the areas around the cabin near Grand Lake. He drove his moped all over Gravel Mountain and knew all the roads and trails nearby. He liked his bikes in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter.
In recent years Dan worked for the railroad and found his niche in that work. We are so proud of his accomplishments, and were so happy for him when he bought his current house and was in the process of fixing it up. Dan was a hard worker, and the improvements he made on the house testify to his perseverance and talent.
On July 23, Dan was traveling with a friend to the mountain cabin on his motorcycle when he lost control in an attempt to avoid a deer in the road. He was critically injured and did not regain consciousness.
He was a very caring and giving person who would always go out of his way to help people. He had a big heart, and gave his best gift at death. Dan was on record as desiring to be an organ donor, and in his very last moments was able to give prolonged life to two local people in the Denver Metro area. He would also donate tissue that will go to help up to 75 people. Dan’s ashes will be spread in the mountains he so enjoyed.
Dan liked to share, and when he discovered something of a treasure, he was anxious to share with his family. My favorite story of Dan’s enthusiasm to share took place shortly after Easter when he was about eight years old. While foraging through the trash behind University Shopping Center, he found perfectly good chocolate Easter bunnies – still in their packaging. He excitedly took them home and generously shared the goods with Karla. Imagine the surprise when he discovered that these bunnies were for a window display, and were make from wax. Dreams of chocolate bunnies melted quickly with the first bite into that waxy rabbit.
Besides Dan’s family, he will be greatly missed by his friends and co-workers. Dan was friendly, helpful, caring. We’ll miss his laugh, his stories and his love for life. The DeBoer Family gathered at the cabin in early July. Before we shared a meal together, Dan offered a prayer with us, and this gives us comfort.
Services will be held at Third Christian Reformed Church on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 2:00 p.m..
Memorial Gifts may be made for the benefit of Dan’s children. Please write checks to Third Christian Reformed Church, 2400 S. Ash, Denver, CO 80222.
Family and friends are encouraged to share stories, post thoughts as well as photographs of Dan here on his memorial website. (click appropriate tab above)
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