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Daniel "Jazzman Dan" O'Keefe

Daniel "Jazzman Dan" O'Keefe obituary

Daniel O'Keefe Obituary


"JAZZMAN DAN" (DANIEL) O'KEEFE
December 3, 1931 ~ November 21, 2017

Dan passed away, surrounded by love, at the age of 85 under hospice care at Ray Hickey House from complications of stage 4 lung and brain cancer. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the youngest of six children, to John and Pauline (Golden) O'Keefe. His father worked for the government and his mother had studied at The Notre Dame Conservatory of Music and played the harp and ragtime piano. They lived in Washington, D.C., New York, Alliance, Nebraska, and Los Angeles, California.
Dan was in the Coast Guard during the Korean War (1950-53) where their ship patrolled the Pacific from Japan to Hawaii to The Aleutians to gather weather information.
He then settled in Los Angeles, California, and sold trucks for International Harvester before joining Cummins as an apprentice mechanic.
He met Gloria Countryman there, and they were married in 1957. When they had two children, he helped with taking care of them and didn't leave it all to Gloria.
He became a journeyman diesel mechanic for Cummins and worked in that field for over 25 years. His job took our family to live in Northern California, The Pacific Northwest, and Big Sky Country before moving to Vancouver, Washington, in 1980.
Dan was raised in the Roman Catholic faith, was an altar boy, a Knight of Columbus, and listened to Archbishop Fulton Sheen. He loved car racing and raced a little in California. He was musically inclined like his mother, and could play the piano, the saxophone and many other instruments as well as sing and draw. He could build or fix almost anything, and did beautiful woodwork. He was in the Green River Community College Band in Seattle, and they played at basketball games and nursing homes. Dan loved traditional jazz and started this program at Mt. Hood Community College as a DJ; he convinced them that there was an audience for this music and brought his own records to play for the three-hour program that he hosted on Saturday mornings (now on Sunday mornings) on KMHD radio.
He was a special dad, always ready to help someone, and had a ready wit and sense of humor with his twinkling blue eyes. He was the primary caretaker for his wife, Gloria, after her stroke in 1998, with help from his son and daughter. They were married for 53 years. He had many health problems in his later life, but never gave up.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, in 2011; his brothers Bill, Joe and Jack; and sisters Mary Ann Sennett and Alice Logan; and his parents. He is survived by his son, Patrick O'Keefe and daughter, Suzanne O'Keefe, and by many nieces and nephews.
We thank the many doctors, nurses, therapists, and others who helped us take care of dad these last years, and especially the hospice team at Ray Hickey House.
Dan's funeral mass will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Vancouver, WA, at 11:00 a.m., Thurs. Nov. 30, 2017 with a guest book and reception to follow, and burial at Mother Joseph Cemetery.
Please sign his guestbook at www.columbian.com/obits

Published by The Columbian on Nov. 26, 2017.
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Memories and Condolences
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I knew him only as a young boy in Sioux City, IA. All in his family were close to me and my family and we kept in touch throughout the years. He is the last of his generation to pass on. I am so sorry and send my condolences to his children Patrick and Suzanne.

Virginia Hummel

Friend

January 12, 2018

We are saddened to hear of Jazzman Dans passing and will miss his twinkle eyed sense of humor as well as his musical knowledge, he was simply a joy to spend time with. He was so generous with sharing his CDs of musical compilations and the personalised comments he added with his beautiful mellow voice- we will treasure them always. Condolences to all family members on your loss. Anne Wilson and Jim Squires.

Anne Wilson Jim Squires

November 29, 2017

Dan was a close friend for 25 years. I knew him when he started the KMHD jazz program. He was a family man, devoted. He possessed a great sense of humor. He called me every year on my birthday to see if the Rolex present had arrived. We had the same birthday. He will truly be missed by his large number of friends. I will miss the occasional custom jazz recordings that he would send.

Ron Hayes

November 28, 2017

We will miss seeing your Dad at Juliano's. He was always so kind and loved to talk about Nascar! Our thoughts are with you ❤

Juliano's Pizzeria

November 27, 2017

Our hearts are saddened by your loss and our thoughts and prayers are with your family. May your precious memories of your time together help with the pain. May God comfort your hearts and give you peace. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

EG

November 27, 2017

JAZZMAN DAN -- "THE MAN WHAT AM" -- was the most jazz-infected fan I've ever encountered.
When Dan hosted the Sunday radio show way back when, I loaned him a few stacks of ancient 78 jazz recordings; you'd think I'd named him in my will ! Well do I recall the time 'Diamond Lil' (vocalist with the Jim Beatty band) dragged Dan out on the dance floor at the PDJS monthly gathering. Afterwards, I made mention of his sweaty forehead. His response (jokingly, I'm sure): "That's nothing -- you oughta see my trousers." Dan lived and breathed traditional jazz...he could never get enough of it.

With affection/Tony Welch

November 27, 2017

Recall listening to You at KMHD many a Saturday. Always a joy. RIP Jazz Man

Lenora Howton

November 27, 2017

Dan was such a good friend to me, as well as everyone else. When we would get together for breakfast or lunch, our conversation always turned to Dixieland Jazz. Oh how he loved it!!! Numerous friends have been the recipient of his CD recordings with commentary. They were personalized with stories and his unforgettable laugh. Dan will sorely be missed and as he always said......"The Beat Goes On".

Ruthie Westlund

November 26, 2017

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