Roll Call Tribute

Daniel Edwin Wegner
May 28, 1946 - June 30, 2021

Daniel E. Wegner was born to Edwin and Deoldine Wegner in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 28th 1946. At a very young age has family moved to Parma, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland where he grew up.

After graduating from Parma Senior High School, he attended Houghton college for 2 years, and then finished his degree in History from Wheaton College in 1968. After working on a Master's in History at Denver University, he was drafted and served in the Army from 1969 to 1971. Following that came an M.A. from North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls, a Master's Degree in Recreation and Park Administration from Clemson University, and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Recreation and Resource Development. This led to a rewarding and varied teaching career at Texas A&M, Howard Payne University, Southwest Texas State University, and California State University at Long Beach.

Dan loved the national parks and historic sites and his passion for them was contagious. In addition to his teaching career, he worked in the National Park Service and a variety of positions and locations including Glacier, Teddy Roosevelt, Death Valley, Blue Ridge Parkway, Saint Augustine, Blackstone River Valley and Lake Mead.

Other highlights in his life were a mission trip through Central America with a Mennonite group while in high school, going to the LBJ Ranch in Texas for their annual Christmas tree lighting for many years, and learning to play the mountain dulcimer while in the Blue Ridge Parkway. He later enjoyed playing with a dulcimer group at the cultural center in Port Charlotte.

Dan's faith was central to his life, and wherever he lived, he became involved in a local church. After retiring in 2009, he became active in First Alliance Church in Port Charlotte, Florida, where he formed many friendships. He was blessed to have the support of his friends throughout his struggles with Parkinson’s Disease. Though he experienced significant illness, he always maintained a positive outlook. He was a friend to all and will be dearly missed.

Dan passed into God's presence peacefully in his sleep on June 30, 2021, at the Douglas T. Jacobson State Veteran’s Home in Port Charlotte, Florida, at the age of 75.

Dan survived by his sister, Ruth (husband Brian) Miller, of Wheaton, Illinois; two nieces, Sarah Miller, of Chicago, Illinois, and Heather (husband Steve) Barilla, of Wheaton, Illinois; a great-nephew, Brian Barilla, and two great-nieces, Faith Barilla and Hannah Barilla, all of Wheaton, Illinois

A memorial service will be held on Monday July 26, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., at First Alliance Church, 2044 Midway Boulevard, Port Charlotte, Florida, 33952.

Interment will be private at Lakewood Park Cemetery, Rocky River, Ohio, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to First Alliance Church, 20444 Midway Boulevard, Port Charlotte, FL 33952.