Daniel L. Wachsmuth, 80
Daniel L. "Dan, serious baseball fan" Wachsmuth, 80, passed away Sept. 14, 2013, of heart failure at Hillside Care Center in Missoula.
Dan was born on Jan. 24, 1933, in Kalispell to William A. and Anna M. (Weaver) Wachsmuth. He grew up there, attended Russell and Central schools, and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1951. Due to physical complications he was not able to participate in high school sports, nor be accepted for military service.
Shortly after high school he started a lifelong career in the auto parts business at the Kalispell Mercantile and Flathead Motor Sales. In 1968 he moved to Missoula at T. & W. Chevrolet for several years. He finished his career at DeMarois Buick GMC, retiring in 1998.
In 1980 Dan married Ruthann English. Dan and Ruthann had no children. They enjoyed a wonderful life together until her untimely death in 1993.
A later friendship developed between Dan and Mary Dobson of Butte where they enjoyed yard sales and antique shows together around Montana. They also enjoyed a number of bus tours together to various parts of the United States.
Dan began an avid interest in baseball at a young age. He became a walking encyclopedia of Major League Baseball from that time throughout his lifetime. He coached Little League baseball a few years in Kalispell, with many of his players maintaining lasting friendships with Dan.
Dan became a true fan of the Missoula Mavericks American Legion Baseball team in the late 1970s, continuing throughout his life. He regularly quietly sponsored players that who the help. Dan also did scouting for the Philadelphia Phillies for several years, attending more than 4,000 Legion baseball games in doing so.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ruthann, and her parents and brother; sister-in-law, Alice Wachsmuth; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He is survived by his older brother, Harold, and Leone of Kalispell, and nieces, Vickie Blake and Bob of Kalispell, Debbie Kirkman and Greg of Boston, and Rhonda Newman and Lyle of Columbia Falls; his younger brother, Ron, of Plains, and nephews, Mark and Angela of Nampa, Idaho, and Matt of Missoula; his good friend, Mary Dobson, of Butte, and her family; and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place through Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies, with urn placement at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.
At Dan's request, an informal celebration of his life with family and friends will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Lindborg-Cregg Legion baseball field on Tower Street.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Dan Wachsmuth Baseball Fund at U.S. Bank. 1635 S. Russell St., to benefit the Missoula Mavericks.
The family sincerely thanks the doctors and staff at Western Montana Clinic, St. Patrick Hospital and Hillside Care Center for the fine care provided for Dan during his illness.