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George E. Dana

George Edward Dana was born to Wolcott and Grace Freeburger Dana on April 22, 1909 at Manson, Iowa. He received his undergraduate degrees from Iowa State Teachers College and the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse and his MA in Education from the University of Iowa.

On June 8, 1952 he was married to Hila Stover at the United Church of Christ in Leon, Iowa.

George was a school teacher and administrator, retiring from Milford Community Schools in 1974. He also coached girl’s basketball, track, baseball and wrestling.

George’s career led him to several central Iowa communities. He raised his family in Missouri Valley, Lytton and, since 1966, Milford.

During WW2, from 1942 to 1945, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a member of the Union Memorial Church and the Milford Masonic Lodge.

George died on his birthday, April 22, at the Milford Nursing Center. Surviving are his children, Roberta (Gary) Wittrock of Spirit Lake, Jon (Kathleen) Dana of Milford, Terri (Kelvin) Bronner of Cedar Rapids and Jean (Charlie) Carney of Milford; grandchildren, Nathan and Luke Bronner, Kelsie and Caleb Wittrock, Jay and Holly Carney and Danielle and Abbigail Dana.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Hila, parents Wolcott and Grace, brothers, Harry, Ralph, Charles, Arthur Tom and Joe and sisters, Ruth and Ellen Jane.

For 98 years George celebrated life with his beloved family, friends, community and church. He was truly a “Renaissance Man” with interests ranging from fishing, hunting and sports, to educational improvement and appreciation of the arts. Woodcarving, cooking and gardening were some of his favorite pastimes, along with attending sporting events involving his children, grandchildren and his beloved
Hawkeyes. He had a great patriotic pride and a long loyalty to the GOP.

George’s love for travel and adventure took him to all 50 states, Canada and Europe. He told stories of Midsummers Night eve spent in Sweden and of witnessing flows of glacial pack ice in Alaska. His fascination with nature was always apparent, from the Buckeye Seed he carried for nearly a century, to the many trees he planted during his lifetime. His children and grandchildren are daily witness to the sanctuary provided by the trees George planted and they find it very appropriate that Earth Day is April 22, his birthday. George continued to play cribbage as long as he could with his family on the cribbage board he made in shop class.


IN MEMORY
George Edward Dana

April 22, 1909 ~ April 22, 2007

SERVICE
Union Memorial Church
Milford, Iowa
Thursday, April 26, 2007 10:30 AM

CLERGY
Rev. Bob Butterfield

MUSIC
Karen Carr, Pianist
Wendell Williams, Soloist
I Go To The Rock
Special Music by
Okoboji High School Band Ensemble

HONORARY BEARERS
Nathan Bronner
Abbigail Dana
Holly Carney
Danielle Dana
Kelsie Wittrock

PALLBEARERS
Kelvin Bronner
Chad Carney
Luke Bronner
Jay Carney
Charlie Carney
Caleb Wittrock
Gary Wittrock

INTERMENT
Milford Cemetery, Milford, Iowa

~~~

If tears could build a stairway
And memories a lane,
I’d walk right up to heaven
And bring you home again.

~~~

Taps
Day is gone, gone the sun
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.