Dan Ekanger

Daniel (Dan, Danny) was born on July 12, 1958 at St Mary’s in Rochester, Minnesota. He was the oldest of three children born to Charles and Joyce Ekanger. Dan was baptized on August 10, 1958 at Zumbro Lutheran in Rochester with John Trelstad presiding. He moved with his parents to Denver in 1959 when his father began his graduate studies at the University of Denver.

Dan walked to Pitts Elementary School when he was in the lower grades. One day in Kindergarten he came home and announced to his mother that he liked a certain girl; however, he said: “but she wets her pants”. He was confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran In Denver on October 28, 1973 under pastor Charles Berdahl. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School on June 9, 1976. Upon graduation he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, graduating on May 22, 1981 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing.

Dan’s employment years were a mixture of sales and ski instruction. The last 22 years, he was employed at “Paint and Lacquer Company” and “Assessa Coating Solutions”.

Dan met Charlene (Charlie) Lorenzen in the early 80’s. Their friendship grew through the years. Dan loved camping, water skiing, snowskiing, baseball, basketball and golf. He passed on some of his love for sports to Charlie’s boys, Michael and Steven. Dan and Charlie’s love for one another came to fruition on December 31, 2021, when they were pronounced husband and wife.

Daniel’s skiing accident and a broken neck revealed cancer throughout his body. We know that cancer can destroy a person but does not define them. Dan will be remembered as exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit spoken of in Galatians: patience, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness and love. He tried to take a positive attitude toward life. Generally people think that children should outlive their parents; however, that’s not always the case. Dan will be missed more than we can ever think or imagine.

Dan leaves to mourn, his wife Charlie, mother Joyce, his sister Linda and Brad (Luke, Lauren), and brother David. He also leaves to mourn Charlie’s brother Ken and Taylor Powers, and Charlie’s three children:  Aspen and Darrin Kass (Reese and Michah), Michael, and Steven and Anna (Eli), along with many relatives – uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

Grant him peace O Lord.

Memorials may be directed to St Jude and Prostate Cancer Foundation.