Daniel was born on March 13, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri to Daniel Andrew and Evelyn (Sorenson) Tatomer. The family moved to Elko, Nevada soon afterward, and Daniel spent the remainder of his childhood there.
Daniel loved playing the tuba in his youth and excelled as a tubist in the Elko High School and University of Oregon marching bands. He received the Arion Award, a national recognition of junior and senior class members chosen by their schools for outstanding achievement in band, orchestra, or chorus. He performed at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. While at University, Daniel was lauded by visiting professional artists for playing his etudes to perfection. Later in life, Daniel became a loyal fan of the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps International and frequently attended their summer performances. His love for music was profound and life-long, and he shared this trait with his siblings, Bill, Jimmy, and Sherrill.
Daniel served in the United States Army from 1963 until 1965, as did his brothers William John Tatomer, Sr. and James Martin Tatomer.
Daniel met Margaret Barrus, his wife of 58 years, while she was working as a waitress in Wendover, Nevada. They fell in love and were married in Margaret's hometown of Grantsville, Utah on November 13, 1964. After a brief honeymoon, they drove in their VW bug to Fairbanks, Alaska, where Daniel completed his service in the military.
After Daniel's military service, the young couple moved to Stockton, California where they started a family, and Daniel continued his occupation as a brakeman for the Western Pacific Railroad. Over his career, Daniel also worked as a conductor for the California Zephyr and Amtrak passenger lines, but spent most of his time in freight, ending his career more than four decades later with the Union Pacific Railroad.
In Stockton, Daniel and Margaret started a tradition of taking their family on annual summer vacations. Daniel dutifully shared with his children the beauty and awe of the many parks and landmarks of the Western United States and later drove his family to New Orleans and Vancouver for the World Expositions.
In 1976, the family relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, where their youngest daughter was born, and where Daniel lived the remainder of his life. Daniel taught his family to ski in their new mountain home. Like his father, Daniel was an avid golfer and shot a hole-in-one on the Mick Riley golf course in Salt Lake City in 1999. Daniel's older brother William also moved his family to Utah, and they joined their families for many fun and memorable holidays and get-togethers over the next 50 years. He also enjoyed many visits with his dear sister Sherrill and her family.
Daniel was an incredibly devoted husband and father, and a generous man with a true and sincere heart, who loved to talk with people and helped anyone who asked.
Daniel remained a University of Oregon Ducks football fan through the end of his life.
Daniel is survived by his loving wife, Margaret (Barrus) Tatomer; daughter Trinette; son, Daniel Jr., who lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife, Nami; daughter Cristine of Los Angeles, CA; sister Sherrill Tatomer of Elko, NV; and many devoted in-laws, nieces and nephews, and their children.
Daniel was preceded in death by his father, Daniel, his mother, Evelyn, and his brothers William John Tatomer, Sr. of Midway, Utah, and James Martin Tatomer of Sun Valley, Nevada. Although his brothers died in late 2020, Daniel always spoke as if he had just lost them in the "last two weeks."
Those wishing to honor Daniel's memory may do so by contributing to the Utah Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch Counties, American Lung Association, and the U of U Alzheimer’s Center.
