Daniel John 'Dan' Wright, 46
Daniel John "Dan" Wright, 46, beloved husband, father, son and brother passed away Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Dan was born Feb. 17, 1961, in Kalispell, to John and Rosalie (Sullivan) Wright. Dan attended schools in Evergreen and graduated from Flathead High School in 1980. Following high school he attended Wyoming Tech, completing a course of study in Diesel Mechanics, he was employed at Palmer Brothers, Stillwater Forest Products and Montana Gold Bullet.
On Dec. 5, 1992, Dan married Lana Schwegel, and in 1994 they welcomed their only child, a son, Edward.
Dan was a lifelong baseball, and most especially, a St. Louis Cardinals fan and proudly wore his favorite cardinal shirts and hats. A memorable event for him and his family was a recent trip to a Missoula Osprey game with his sister and her family.
Dan was an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. Early in their marriage he taught Lana how to fly fish, and he tied many of his own flies. Dan truly loved the outdoors and many times, while sitting around a campfire he would ask "Do you hear that? No telephone."
In 1997, Dan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating disease that slowed him physically but not spiritually. MS only lessened the frequency of his fishing, hunting and camping trips, but not his enthusiasm for them. A favorite saying of his was "Life is too short." Dan always met each task head on, with determination, grit and a sense of humor. After his MS diagnosis, and his ability to walk became impaired, at least unassisted, he never once asked "Why Me?" Dan never gave in to despair, he fought the disease with every fiber of his being, MS may have had his body, but it was not going to have him.
A treasured memory, in July 2005, he officiated at the wedding of his neice, a job he took on with pride, humor and great dignity. If state of mind were a cure for MS he would have danced with the bride and then run a marathon.
Dan was preceded in death by his father, John.
He is survived by his wife, Lana and son, Edward, at the family home in Kalispell; his mother, Rose, also of Kalispell; his brother, Lonnie Wright and his wife, Kelly, of Kalispell; his sister, Connie Lehman and her husband, John, of Missoula; his grandmother, Evelyn Sullivan of Kalispell; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends who will deeply miss his can-do attitude, his humor and most of all the quiet dignity of Dan himself.
"I can do what I can do and do no more."
Funeral services for Dan will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Burial will be afterward at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Johnson Mortuary.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Dan's family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Dan's guest book.