Daniel George Rotter

Daniel George Rotter, Age 72, passed suddenly in his Rochester, Washington home on September 14, 2023. This day is especially meaningful as it falls on the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; commemorating its discovery by Saint Helena, who happens to be his wife’s Confirmation Saint and his Mother Helen’s Patron Saint. Panachida Memorial Services for Dan will be prayed in the Byzantine Tradition during the first year and anniversary of his Death, and then for years to come.

Dan was born December 7, 1950, in Bremerton, Washington, and is survived by his wife of 52 years, Karen (Padden) Rotter; daughter Amy Lee (Rotter) Hussey, her husband Kyle and their children Sophia & Griffin Hussey; his late son Justin’s wife Jill Rotter and their children Lauren & Carson Daniel Rotter; his two sisters Connie (Harry) Birkenfeld and Carol, (Desmond) Hartnell, with Dan considering Harry and Desmond as brothers.

Dan is preceded in death by his only son Justin Daniel Rotter who was born on July 24, 1976, and passed into eternal life on his 44th birthday in 2020. He is also preceded by his loving parents, Richard James Rotter and Helen Marcia (Denniston) Rotter; Great Nephew Tyler Austin Stiles, Mother-in-law Dolores Marie Alto; Brother-in-law James Aloysius Padden; Sister-in-law Donna Padden, Niece Shelley Lynn Grandall, and his beloved friends Donald Masterman, Dan Swecker, Butch Pearson, Jon Lindbergh, Tim Tapper, Larry Heinz, Yvonne Ruege, and Roy Moses.

Dan was raised in Bremerton, Washington, attended West High School, Olympic College and then the University of Washington. He was hired at Domsea Farms shortly after his marriage to Karen in 1971. The couple loved living on the remote Hood Canal waterfront at Holly with breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains, and close to family and friends. They purchased a gorgeous five-acre parcel of wooded old-growth overlooking Holly Cove, planning to make it their forever home. In 1978, they made the difficult decision to leave Holly so Dan could continue managing the developing fish farm sites in Rochester, Washington.

Dan had a 40-year run at Fish Farming, from growing gourmet panned-size Pacifics to becoming the largest growers of Atlantic Salmon worldwide. In 1971, he was recruited as a Washington State University student by Jon Lindbergh (son of the famous aviator Charles) to work at Gluds Pond in Bremerton, and soon thereafter became a hands-on manager for Domsea Farms. He commuted and eventually moved to Rochester, managing the Farm’s Black River and Scatter Creek sites for about 35 years. The job was unpredictably consuming and came with a 24-hour beeper so he could quickly respond to any emergencies jeopardizing the crop. Fish Farming was not easy, but it served Dan and his family well; he wanted nothing less than for the Farm to flourish and provide for his entire Fish Farm Family. Aquaculture was a cutting edge and adventurous field, but not without challenges and controversy. Dan embraced the exciting and successful times, and was a reassuring leader during those difficult times that made for strong relationships. He managed to persevere until the end of that chapter in his life, moving forward into the next. Dan was grateful for the opportunities his career had afforded him and, in the short of it, he would have done it all over again.

In 1994, Dan and Karen built their final home on the edge of the Black River while living in the old Holm Farmhouse across the RR tracks, becoming part of the Gate Community. For years, Keith Rader mowed and brush-hogged their acreage as he and Dan developed a brotherly bond around the riverfront fire pit. He continued sharing friendship and pies with Keith, Margaret and others living on the Holm/Rader Farm.

Many friends and co-workers in Dan’s life became like family; including Jeff & Denise Connolly, Don & Carolyn Masterman, Frank & Carmen Easter, Keith & Margaret Rader, Rick & Susie Hawes, Gary & Kim VanRee, Svein & Aase Nøttveit, Dean & Linda Lund, Brian & Jody Hickey, Doug & Meika Simms, Karen & Butch Pearson, Renee & Mike Sandy, Yvonne Ruege, Eric Bricker, Matt Carlson, Paul Anderson, Andy Sloaf, Paul Groppel, Larry Heinz, Tim Tapper, Peggy Plummer, and the Connolly, Pearson, Hawes, Simms, Bricker, Rader, VanRee, Easter, Hickey, Nøttveit, Weaver, Ruege, Lund, Tapper, and Fish Farm Families.

Dan has fifty nieces and nephews, including Paul and Chad Birkenfeld, Layna (Birkenfeld) Johnston, and Kevin Hartnell; as well as Tessa, Alia, Kara, Ashley, Bradley, James, Forrest, Shane, JR, Angela, Bryan, Curt, Dana, Katrina, and Bryndon; many of whom spent considerable and various times at the Rotter home throughout the years. Dan always enjoyed the company of overnight campers and visitors. He cherished the memory of Layna’s late son Tyler and his many camping visits.

Dan was grateful for both Jill and Kyle; the respective, hard-working, faithful, and accomplished spouses of his two children. He was close with his loving SIL Marcia and her husband LaVerne; his late BIL Jim and his wife Janet; his BIL Jerry and his late wife Donna; and his BILs Allen and Robert.

Dan had a fatherly love for Karen’s brother Robert, who had lost his own father at age ten. He was only four years older than Justin. Dan mentored them through many shared experiences, including BMX dirt and motorcycle riding, hunting, target practice, camping, fishing the stocked lake on the property, and more.

Dan greatly loved and admired his daughter, Amy Lee, born in 1979. He was very proud of her work ethic and achievements, including Hoss Field sports, Girl Scouts, Academic Tutoring, and other employment from a young age. He enjoyed and supported her many endeavors in music, vocals, piano and stage as well as her longtime commitment to ballet and other dance forms as a student of Chehalis Ballet, now named Southwest Washington Dance Center. Dan supported her travels as a Company Performer of Modern Dance for renowned Phyllis Stonebrook, Ballet Master Classes with Professional Dancers Noelle Mason, Dean Speer, and both the Oregon and Joffrey Ballet. He later attended performances of not only Amy, but of her own dance students and granddaughter Sophia. Dan was also very proud of Amy’s academic achievements, teaching career, and commitment to hosting family events.

Dan was completely dedicated to every aspect of his children’s lives. He had created two motorcycle stunt and race tracks for his late son that were quite instrumental in Justin bringing home numerous trophies from Mudslinger Motorcycle Races to eventual Flat Track. Dan mentored Justin through various youth sports, including soccer, and supported him in T-Ball, Little-League, Babe Ruth and other baseball programs. He was fully committed to Justin’s Middle School athletics and four years of RHS (Rochester High School) Varsity football, basketball and baseball as a formidable pitcher. Dan was a top fan and supporter of the RHS baseball program, team members and Coach Larry Heinz. He was incredibly proud of their numerous District and State Titles, especially the 1993 State Championship, 1994 2nd in State, the 1994 American Legion State Championship, and Justin earning a spot on the 1994 All-State Baseball team. Dan was no less proud of Justin’s lifelong, outstanding and amazing academic achievements, his RHS teaching and coaching careers, and his volunteer coaching of youth sports that included his son, Carson. Dan was tickled to see them receiving sport page ink together.

Dan was a charter member of the Hoss Field Development Group that built the Sports Complex from the ground up for the kids of Rochester and Grand Mound; members were recently acknowledged by RHS Coach Brad Quarnstrom during an event honoring Dan’s late son—the dedication and naming of the “Justin Rotter Memorial Field”. He was also very grateful for the renaming and rededication of the RHS baseball field; an effort spearheaded by beloved coach, friend and keynote speaker at the event Larry Heinz to honor Justin (a fellow teacher and coach) at the now Heinz-Rotter Field. Larry, who passed recently, is deeply loved, admired and respected by the Rotter Family and countless others. He was an amazing man and mentor of young and old alike. May his memory be eternal!

Dan loved hunting. camping, duck-blinds, fishing, shooting, and everything else in between that he did with Justin. He was an avid hunter, both in and out of state, with many hunting partners over his lifetime, including his closest friends Rick Hawes and the late Don Masterman, "Grandpa” Roy and BIL Jerry. His last hunting trip (pictured above) was with Justin’s best friend Brian Hickey. That trip became a heartfelt memorial to Justin, whose last hunt was also with Brian. There wasn’t another man that Dan was more impressed with than Brian, and they became huge blessings to each other after Justin’s passing.

Dan was an award-winning Rifle and Black Powder Marksman, who enjoyed sharing his shooting backstories with Grandson Griffin. Dean, his best friend of 44-years, who did all his ammo reloads, was there for Dan during his most challenging times. Dean and Justin did reloads together for the Tika 7mm rifle/scope that had been gifted to him by his loyal co-workers at the Fish Farm as a gesture of great respect, love, and admiration.

“Papa Dan” spent a lot of time with his children and grandchildren. He was very dedicated to them, attending their performances, concerts, sporting events, school and other activities. He loved them all dearly, and he was very proud of their many talents, abilities, and achievements, including his oldest grandchild Lauren graduating as a Valedictorian of her 2023 RHS Class.

Music was a huge part of Dan’s life. He played bass guitar and stand-up bass with Yvonne Ruege’s band at various community events, including Tenino’s Oregon Trail Days, Old Time Music Festivals and the Lewis County Fair. He immensely enjoyed the musical talents of his granddaughter Sophia and Karen’s brothers Jim and Allen. Just days before his passing, he and Rick enjoyed Allen and his music alongside the river; who, along with others, paid tribute to Dan at the funeral reception.

Dan loved his animals, and they were all VERY attached to him. Over the years, he had two Irish Setters, a Samoyed, a Spaniel, and his and Justin’s Black Lab Sadie. Then, along came Maggie, his English Springer Gun-Dog, and they were inseparable for 11 years. Rick and his three dogs visited almost daily, so it’s not surprising she is already attaching to Rick as she had Dan—a HUGE blessing to her remaining years. Dan also had four horses (Nora, Don, Holly, Penney) and a donkey named Angel; he had a very gentle and loving way with them that he shared with Peggy and his family.

Dan was not outwardly religious, but his Catholic roots manifested in many aspects of his life. He was baptized and married in the Catholic Church. He brought home the Crucifix that resides in Justin’s memorial garden alongside a family statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Dan was an integral part of his children’s early Catholic education of seven years, the reception of their first Sacraments and other sacred events. Last year, his property was used for a Boy’s Camp hosted by St. Joseph’s Church in Tacoma. Dan had saved many heartfelt letters written over the years; he loved his family and knew he was loved by his wife, children, family, and friends.

Until the day of his passing, Dan was leisurely bird watching, studying maps, reading, and soaking up nature alongside the river. He enjoyed daily campfire visits from Rick and/or Dean and Bricker. What are the chances that all three would be together at Dan’s home during his final moments on earth? The mysterious hug and pat on Rick’s back may well have been Dan’s sentimental way of saying goodbye.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Dan’s October 14, 2023, funeral services were held at St. Francis Xavier Mission Catholic Church in Toledo, Washington, and included a 10:30 a.m. Viewing and Prayer of the Most Holy Rosary with St Frances Parishioner Anna Starkey, a long-time neighbor and friend. The Rev. Daniel Dozier of Saint George Byzantine Catholic Church offered a Funeral Divine Liturgy with Reader Donal Turrentine, Cantor Xenia Gomez, Server Brother Matthias and Servers Mark, Abel, Simon, Arthur, and Reuben Turrentine.

The following were honored to be Pallbearers at one or the other of Dan’s services: Dean Lund; Brian Hickey; Matt Carlson; Andy Sloaf; Paul Birkenfeld; Doug Simms; Eric Bricker; Larry Weaver; Robert & Allen Alto; Kyle & Griffin Hussey; Rick, Kyle, Ben, Chris & Roy Hawes. Honorary Pallbearers included Jerry Padden, Carson Daniel Rotter, Gary VanRee, Harry & Chad Birkenfeld, Desmond & Kevin Hartnell, LaVerne Grandall, Keith Rader, Svein Nottveit, Jeff Connolly, and the late Justin Daniel Rotter (†) Larry Heinz (†) Jim Padden (†) Don Masterman (†) Jon Lindbergh (†) Dan Swecker (†) Butch Pearson (†) Roy Moses (†).

(Notable moments included a visible Annular Solar Eclipse en route to Dan’s October 14th funeral, and torrential rains traveling to his November 4th burial. In Christian symbolism, Christ is the sun and Mary the moon reflecting His light, and rain represents the pouring out of His Holy Spirit to revive, heal, refresh, and fill His people)

After the services, an indoor/outdoor potluck reception was held at the Historic Gate City Schoolhouse just around the corner from Dan’s home, thus providing a unique option to celebrate Dan’s life in familiar surroundings. His friends grilled oysters over open fire pits as they had done so often together. Padden Seafood, owned by Dan’s nephew James, provided a whopping 72 dozen Oysters for the well-attended event. Rick reminisced by grilling other meats he and Dan often enjoyed together.

The live music Dan loved was played by Bucklin Hill Bandmembers Carl Moffit (an amazing vocalist) and Karen’s brother Allen Alto (an awesome guitarist) who played on their late brother Jim’s guitar. Carl’s soulful and moving rendition of Danny Boy was the favorite song of Dan’s late Mother, Helen, and a very special moment for the family. Grand Ole Opry singer Linda Evans and her daughter Gina Alto, who had spent time with Dan over a span of many years, celebrated his life with their incredible vocal talents. Karen danced with Alia and Gina as Dan would have been leading her in days gone past.

Amy and her friend Jen Sharbel had set up an amazing display demonstrating Dan’s life; friends Jenny Pitts and Shelly Bergin helped with preparations. Harvey and Debbie Williams helped set up for the potluck. Renee Sandy served up Venison Stew and Karen made Dan’s favorite beans. SIL Janet Padden and Jody Hickey provided much of the food, with Janet also providing the beautiful decor of fresh evergreens, complimented by a beautiful Deer Antler Spray created by Molly Bricker. Renee, Rich, and Jody closed the place down, leaving it spotless and ready for the next reception.

GRAVESIDE AND BURIAL SERVICES will be offered for Daniel George Rotter on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, at 11 AM in the Cemetery at St. Francis Xavier Mission Church, 139 Spencer Road, Toledo, WA 98591, presided by Father Daniel G. Dozier, Pastor of St. George Byzantine Catholic Church.

As an option, some are planning to wear article(s) of camouflage in tribute to Dan as an outdoorsman and hunter; you are invited to do so as well.

Following the Burial, all are invited to a POTLUCK RECEPTION that will begin around 1 PM at the Historic Gate City Schoolhouse located at 16925 MOON ROAD, ROCHESTER WA 98579