In Memory of Dan Wisner

He was a 4 year football letterman playing the center position in High School. Dan graduated from Adna High School in Adna, Washington, in May of 1960. Dan left for active duty in the US Navy in June of that year and reported aboard the USS DeHaven on June 22 as a Electrician striker. He remained aboard the DeHaven until May 22nd 1962 as an EM3. After leaving the DeHaven, Dan stayed in the Naval Reserve until Nov 1969. 

In September 1962,  Dan attended the IBEW Electrical Apprentice training in Seattle and became a journeyman electrician with IBEW-46 of Seattle, where he worked as an electrician for many years. In 1968 Dan started his own electrical contractor business in Chehalis, WA. He operated that business for two years before closing it and moving to Boise, ID to become the Electrical Foreman for Shelter-Ex Mobile Homes. After one year in that position, the business closed. Dan turned to farming in the Meridian, ID area for seven years. He sold his farm operation just before the big crash of no fuel and parts. Dan then became a Sales Manager for a large lighting company and trained sales people in Washington, Oregon and Idaho for several years. He became a voting member of IES (North American Engineering Society) where he remained a member for 12 years and helped set the standards for lighting in all of North America.

In Nov 1979, Dan again joined the Naval Reserve as an EO1 (Equipment Operator) (Sea Bees) for ten years. In April 1980, he formed a Naval Sea Cadet Corp. program in the Boise area. Dan was selected as the commanding officer and obtained the rank of LCDR. Dan spent five years as the Commanding Officer and a total of six years as the NW Regional Director for this Naval youth program.

In Jan 1982 he was elected to the position of Adjutant/Quartermaster/ Service Officer for the VFW of Idaho Department of VFW. Dan was in that position for two years

In September of 1984 he was honored by the Governor of Idaho,  Cecil Andrews and the Idaho Statesman newspaper as a Distinguished Citizen for his work with veterans and Navy youth. 

"This was the highlight of my life." 

Very few have received this award in Idaho.

In Dec 1991 Dan met Mary, and they married in May of 1992. The two became resident managers of large properties from Eugene, Oregon to the Portland area.

Dan discovered that the USS DeHaven was having reunions in 1992 and asked if they would have a reunion on the West coast. To his surprise, he was handed the reunion in the place where he wanted it. With all his experience in non-profit youth groups he formed the by-laws and submitted them to the IRS for a formal DeHaven organization. The first reunion was held in Portland, Oregon and the by-laws were adopted. He held the position of President since and watched the group grow from 100 members to a total of almost 700 members.

"I have made so many new friends and found so many old friends and the joy I receive from doing all this is the pleasure of watching old shipmates seeing each other for the first time in many years. My largest sorrow was being told that the USS DeHaven had been scraped just a few months before my request to get her back as a museum piece. This affected me more than the loss of both my parents as I found my true love was the USS DeHaven DD-727."

His long time goal was to see one more new DeHaven and get the opportunity to just stand on her deck and say "I did it one more time."

"I wish to thank all the DeHaven members for your support and wonderful friendship and understanding you have given me and my wonderful wife Mary. You all make life worth living many times over."

Dan was taken from us on March 7, 2002. He apparently suffered a heart attack. Dan will be sorely missed. His compassion for and contributions to the DeHaven Association will live in our hearts.

Note: The above was mostly in Dan's own words. It was originally put together as a biography of our beloved President. Unfortunately, it now serves as his eulogy.-Scott