Obituary: Hunter, Daniel
Age 64
Dan and his parents Marvin and Olene (Summers) Hunter, two doting older brothers, Jerry and Vern, and his sweet grandmother, Lizzie Hunter lived in Wenatchee until 1954, when they moved to Spokane.
Dan graduated in 1966 from West Valley High School, and then attended Eastern Washington University, graduating in 1970, with a BS in Managerial Finance and as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Army ROTC program.
Dan and his wife Bonnie (Beedle), schoolmates and friends, married on September 8, 1968 - enjoying more than 44 years together.
He was commissioned in December of 1970 as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Finance Corps and served for more than five years in West Berlin, Germany, and Chicago, Illinois.
Their greatest joy came in 1971 with the birth of their daughter Jennifer Anne while stationed in West Berlin.
They returned to Spokane in 1976, where Dan continued to serve in the Army Reserves.
He and his father, and later, his brother Vern, established Empire Spray Service, in 1976.
Dan spent his off time working equally hard to provide whatever was necessary for his daughter’s love for horses and the outdoors.
Dan’s greatest passion had to be fly fishing at Harvey Creek - a family tradition, passion and inborn talent that Dan took to heart and made sure to pass on to Jenni, son-in-law Greg Ham, and two grandsons, Jared and Harlan.
He retired in 1993, from the Army Reserves, as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Dan’s extreme work ethic and intelligence, coupled with an extremely competent and loyal staff, created a profitable family business, 36 years and counting.
His business success allowed him to spend less time at work and more time with friends and family during his last years.
Dan’s happiest moments of his life were those spent with his wife and their grandsons, daughter, and son-in-law, embracing every moment.
Dan came across as a tough, gruff, no nonsense man.
He was really a soft-hearted guy that would get tears in his eyes when thinking of precious moments in his life.
Dan’s death is leaving a huge hole in the lives of his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandsons, his beloved older brother Jerry and his dearest friends.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Olene, and by his brother Vern.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; daughter Jenni; son-in-law Greg Ham; grandsons Jared and Harlan; brother Jerry; numerous nieces, nephews; and countless friends.
A military burial service will be conducted at 3:00 PM on Monday, February 4, 2013, at the WA State Veteran’s Cemetery in Medical Lake, Washington.
A true celebration of his life and memorial tribute will take place later in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the charity of your choice or to Hospice of Spokane.