Dennis Kay Daniels

Dennis Kay Daniels (DKD) was born in the old family home in Mt Pleasant, Utah, (Hub City) on May 5, 1937, to good, hard working, humble parents, Charles and Alice Anderson Daniels. He passed away on October 4, 2017, at 80 years.

He always claimed he was born right smack in the middle of Sanpete County, right smack in the middle of Utah and on his birthday in 1937, right smack in the middle of the universe. Later as a teenager, his family moved to Eureka, Utah, which was right smack in the middle of everything great.

His family of six siblings consisted of Betty Jean, Mont, Gary, Patsy, and Michael. After graduation from Tintic High School, he felt duty calling and enlisted in the United States Air Force. His Air Force duty took him to Minnesota where he met, courted, and married his sweetheart, a beautiful Viking farm girl, Mildred Bakke. It also led to a profession of 40 years and one day as he came back to Utah to serve in and work for the Utah Air National Guard obtaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He was able to visit bases and cities throughout the free world while air fueling our nations fighting air force jets. To this day, all of his “Guard” veteran friends still call him “Chief”. It is a compliment to him how retired Generals, Mayors, and Astronauts, when they bump into him, either call him “Chief” or call him by his first name. Upon his retirement, he was awarded “The Meritorious Service Medal” for outstanding service to the United States while serving in the 151st Air Refueling Group of the Utah Air National Guard racking up an impressive 12,000 flying hours as loadmaster and boom operator. The award compliments him for his staunch integrity and exceptional leadership while being recognized as the Chief Loadmaster and Boom Operator from 1964 to 1992. He was selected as a member of the international Aerial Refueling System Advisory Group for his professional and technical expertise. These singularly distinctive accomplishments of the Chief culminated in a long distinguished career.

Dennis is preceded in death by his beloved Milly; his parents; his sister, Betty; and brother, Mont. He is survived by two children, Kathryn Zeigler, Robert B (Gigi) Daniels; two grandchildren, Tristan and Denise; and great grandson, Bentley; two brothers, Gary (Gwen), Michael (Karen); one sister, Patsy Joan; and a very special friend, Patricia Brown.

He lived by these two precious gems: “You are born, you fly, you live long, to die.” And “I love people and no, I still don’t want a dog.”

A military, friends and family graveside ceremony will be held at Valley View Memorial Park, 4400 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah, on Thursday, October 12, 2017, at 11:30 a.m., for all to attend. A celebration of his life will be held the same day, at 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion, Post 71, 3419 South West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, a light lunch will be served.