Obituary: Daniel, James Edward
Age 88
He was born in San Jose, CA on June 23, 1926 to parents James and Alma Daniel.
He grew up in California until he joined the Merchant Marines at the age of 16.
While in the Service he was granted leave and went to visit relatives in Michigan.
What started out as a family get together ended up being a 70 year love affair with his beautiful bride Elizabeth M. Daniel.
They married six months later and just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on April 28th.
Together they have four lovely daughters: Joan (Jerry) Clauder, Susan Daniel, Linda (Cliff) Brown, and Sharon (Rich) Daniel.
He has four grandchildren: Lisa (Rob) Skellenger, Andrea (Sean) McManamy, Stacey (Troy) Lobdell, and Adam (Leha) Zachary.
He has 11 great- grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by grandson Michael Arnold.
Jim worked as a city bus driver in San Francisco, and in the CA grocery industry until retirement at age 55.
It was at that time he turned his passion for cactus into a full time business and become known worldwide for his cactus nursery based out of San Jose, CA, aptly named “Cactus Gem’s”.
He would get to be able to travel the world, looking for new specimens and ultimately propagating his own cacti and succulents, even naming them after his children and grandchildren.
He was a brilliant man who enjoyed genealogy, photography, Indian artifacts, reading and traveling.
His deep voice, hearty laugh and twinkling blue eyes will truly be missed here on Earth- but held in our hearts forever.