Dan Reese Eliason

We lost our hero, best friend, and much loved Dad on Dec. 2, 2009. He’d faced so many injuries and illnesses in his life, that would have taken a lesser man. But it was the bizarre result of a freak fall that took him from us.

Dan Reese Eliason was born in Hyrum, Utah on May 6, 1932, the 2nd son of Elmer Merlin Eliason and Harriet Reese Eliason. The family moved to Logan in 1936, and Dan attended Logan City Schools, graduating from Logan High in 1950. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951, and served in Japan during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge in February of 1955, he came home and married JoLene Ring Christensen in the Logan L.D.S. Temple on Feb. 24, 1955. In September of 1957, they had their first child, (and Daddy’s Little Girl) Kae Lin. In May of 1960, their second child, (and one and only son) Jeff Dan, was born.

It seemed to us kids that Dad was always at work... he worked hard alongside his dad, and his brother Larry, building Eliason Packing Company and Eliason Livestock Trucking Company into successful businesses. For several decades, these firms transported, processed and/or distributed beef, sheep, and pork products in the Cache Valley marketing area, and other parts of the Intermountain West.

Dan never met a good joke he didn’t like. He loved to tell jokes and jest with friends and strangers alike. He gave himself the moniker of “Dangerous Dan” which gave all of us close to him a good chuckle.

Dan was always a great comfort and support to his parents, most notably; he gave loving and compassionate car daily, during several years of the last illnesses of each of his parents. After Merlins death, Dan was devoted to caring for his mom until her death.
We truly appreciate him for all the great contributions he made to all of our lives.

Dan is survived by his daughter, Kae Lin Comer (husband Bruce) of Logan, his son Jeff Dan Eliason (wife Wendy) of Bountiful, six grandchildren: Dani Lin Wigfield, Idaho Falls, Jeremy James Comer and Cameron Michael Comer, both of Logan, Ian Jeff Eliason, Analyn Eliason, Alicia Jo Eliason, and Caleb Bowen Eliason, all of Bountiful. His first great grandson is due in the spring. He is also survived by his brother, Max D. Eliason (wife Joyce) of Salt Lake City, and his sister LuAnn Dodd (husband Larry) of Merritt Island, FL. and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Dec. 9, 2009, at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street in Logan, Utah. Family and friends are invited to visit the Mortuary from 6:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, and from 10:30 -11:30 am on Wednesday.
Burial will be in the Logan City Cemetery with military honors.