John James Daly, Jr
February 24, 1945 — June 27, 2013
John James Daly, Jr., 68 of Leola, SD, died Thursday, June 27th, 2013 at his residence in Little Leola.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 1st, 2013, at St. James Lutheran Church in Leola. Military Rites will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Cemetery.
A prayer service will be Sunday at 5:00 at St. James.
Arrangements are with Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory of Aberdeen.
On February 24th, 1945, John was born to John & Callista Daly in Aberdeen, SD. He attended school and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School. During his youth, he was active in Scouts and became an Eagle Scout.
John attended Northern State College, during this same time he proudly served in The Vietnam War with the Special Forces as a Green Beret. He received a Purple Heart and various other honors. He graduated from Northern State College in 1972 and accepted a teaching position in Leola, where he taught and coached for 40 plus years, touching many minds and souls. He was a great mentor to many.
On August 12th, 1972, John married Dorothy A. Keller in McLaughlin, SD. Their union was blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters.
John was a member of the St. James Lutheran Church, American Legion and volunteer fireman in Leola.
John enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Most of all, John enjoyed spending time with his family. He was especially looking forward to Jack's wedding to Kayla.
Blessed to have shared John's life were his wife of forty years, Dorothy of Leola; five children, Christopher, Lakewood, CO; Becky (Allan) Vogel, Aberdeen; Stephanie, Aberdeen; Burt, Sioux Falls and Jack, Sioux Falls; three grandsons, Dylan, Lincoln and Chase Vogel of Aberdeen. John is also survived by his two sisters and one brother, Karen Mewing, Jackie Aliff and Tom, as well as nine brother-in-laws and five sister-in-laws.
John was preceded in death by his parents.
Honorary pallbearers are Ron Struck, Terry Ulmer, CJ Lapp, Richard Jasmer, Bob Schumacher and Larry Huempfner.