Daniel P. Wegner, 84, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 16, 2023. Dan was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, on June 12, 1938, to Albert and Eleanor Wegner.
The family moved to American Falls, Idaho, in Dan’s junior high years. He helped work on the family dry farm in Rockland, Idaho, while living in American Falls. In high school he was very active in sports and excelled in basketball and football, participated in track and baseball and was elected Student Body President his senior year. He was fondly known as Danny boy by many town folks.
During his high school years at American Falls High School he met and married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie Bolton. They married on June 24, 1956. Dan’s dream was to always have his own ranch and be a cowboy as he had a deep love for horses and cattle. In 1963, his dream started to take shape. Dan started with 12 heifers and one bull. He set out with a goal of owning 500 cows. When he reached this goal, he thought 1,000 might be better. This was the start of their incredible ranching journey, relocating his family and cattle ranch to different places, expanding in size and in cattle numbers with each move. This great adventure started out in American Falls, followed by Lima, Montana, Izee, Oregon, McDermitt, Nevada, Ravia, Oklahoma, McAlester, Oklahoma, Cody, Nebraska, and finally, Vale, Oregon, with the Ten Mile Ranch. A family friend once said the “P” for Daniel P. Wegner stood for “Pilgrim” as he moved across the country.
Family has always been very important to Dan and he and Marge were very proud of their three children, Sherry (Blaine) Leisy, Post Falls, Idaho, Terry (Patti) Wegner, Vale, Oregon, Tammy (Rex) Mayer, Libby, Montana, eight grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. After 51 years of marriage, Marge passed away on September 4, 2007. Dan’s faith was very important to him and he taught his children the great importance to have God lead our lives in all we do. This was his greatest legacy. Dan had a beautiful voice and loved to sing to others. We were incredibly blessed to hear him sing constant songs from his heart.
Dan married Connie Eichberger on June 6, 2009. Connie also had four children David (Annemarie) Eichberger, Dexter, Michigan, Christa (John) Markgraff, McHenry, Illinois, Caroline Eichberger, Phoenix, Arizona, and Jeremy (Robin) Eichberger, Gainesville, Virginia. Dan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2004 and lived with this for over 19 years. For the past 13 years, Connie has been an advocate for Dan as he battled this tough disease.
Dan is survived by his wife, Connie; his children; grandchildren; great grandchildren; siblings, Frank Wegner, Pocatello, Idaho, Arlene Breshears, Prescott, Arizona, Sharon (Stan) Rowlands, Meridian, Idaho, Adrian (Kay) Wegner, Oregon City, Oregon, and Sam (Linda) Wegner, Johnson City, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marge; both of his parents, and sister, Willadine Messner.
Funeral services will be at Vale Community Church 450 A Street W, Vale, Oregon, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 3, 2023, under the direction of Lienkaemper Chapel, Ontario. A visitation will be held prior to the service starting at 9:00 a.m. at the church. There will be a short graveside service at noon, Saturday, March 4, 2023, at the American Falls cemetery in American Falls, Idaho, followed by a light meal and fellowship at the American Falls Christian Fellowship, 329 Harrison, for a time to celebrate Dan’s life.
*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.
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