Dan William Viergever, 86, was born at home near Willard, KS on March 24, 1935. He took his final breath on February 12, 2022 - a snow blanketed, blue sky day - following years of decline due to Dementia. He lived in Golden, Colorado with his loving wife and caregiver, Elaine.
Dan grew up in the farmlands surrounding Topeka, KS. Following his graduation from Rossville High School in 1953, he left home, forgoing a football scholarship at Northwestern University, and joined the Navy to serve his country and travel the world. He served as a gunners-mate from 1953-1957 and in the Naval Reserve from 1957-1961. He is a Veteran of the Korean Defense Era. After his military service, Dan worked for the Santa Fe Railroad as an Agent Telegrapher. When the railroad industry began to slow, he chose to start a new career path, earning his bachelor's degree at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in 1969 and his master's degree in Library Science at the University of Oklahoma in 1971. Following this, he was the Library Director at Lamar Community College in Lamar, CO and then at the Main Post library at Fort Riley, KS Army Installation. He finished out his career as Library Director at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, KS in 1999. He is responsible for the numerous, beautiful trees on campus there and mural in the college library. Upon his retirement, Dan and Elaine moved to Colorado, living in both Colorado Springs and Golden and enjoying many trips to their cabin, which he built with his family, in the Rocky Mountains.
Dan is survived by Elaine, his wife of 63 years. They were married in February on a snow blanketed, blue sky day. He is also survived by three well-loved daughters: Melinda, Melodie and Danielle, as well as his sons-in-law Tim, Mike and Sean. He was blessed by a beautiful bunch of grandkids: Drew, Jeremy, Lindy, Silas, Grant and Katherine. And also, great grandkids: Austin, Kyrstin, Keely, Lillian, Mathias and Kaya. His two sisters, Sue (Jack) Flerlage and Sharon (Wonnie) Graves, survive him, as well, and can attest to the orneriness of his boyhood. He will join his parents, Chris and Ethel Viergever, and his brother and best friend, Gerald Viergever, in the here-after.
Those who wish may make memorial gifts in memory of Dan Viergever to:
Neosho County Community College Foundation (NCCC Foundation)
800 W 14th
Chanute, KS 66720
Financial Aid for Students in Need
Memo notes: Dan Viergever Memorial
To view the church service, the link is www.Facebook.com/covenantpcawheatridge/live