Daniel Kenneth Elder

Daniel Kenneth Elder was born in Fresno, California on December 26,1953 to Ken and Mary Lee Elder. He and his younger brother, Ron, spent their early years in Fresno, living on the Red Barn Ranch where their father grew alfalfa. Dan, his brother, and cousins spent many happy years there filled with adventures. When Dan was 9, his family moved to Brazil to serve as missionaries. Four years later, God brought them back to Sunnyvale, California and eventually to Fresno where Dan graduated from Hoover High School in 1972. He later earned a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Business from California State University, Fresno.

After graduating, Dan worked as a manager for Thrifty Drug Store and a loan officer for the Federal Land Bank at various locations. During that time, he also earned a seminary degree hoping to become a pastor, but life took him in another direction. He remained in

agricultural banking for the remainder of his career, eventually moving to Temecula, California where he worked as the Riverside Branch Manager at American AG Credit. Later he was hired as Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager for Bank of the West, from which he retired in 2015.

Dan married his first wife, Regina, when he was finishing his last year of college in Fresno.

They later became the proud parents of David and Stacey. Both children currently reside in the Bay area where David is employed as an assembly mechanic for Northrup Grumman and Stacey as a preschool teacher. Dan felt immense pride in both of his children. In 2008, Dan

met Debbie, an elementary school teacher from Orange County. In August of 2009, Dan and Debbie married. Dan embraced her daughters, Jessica and Ashley, treating them as his own. Dan and Debbie enjoyed living in beautiful wine country as well as traveling in their free time.

Dan particularly relished landscaping and gardening on their property. His hobbies included golf, woodworking, reading, researching, and doing many handyman projects.

Dan's joys in life were God, family, friends, cooking and the Nutwell cabin at Mount Hermon, California that was shared with the Willems family. His step grandchildren, Claire and Collin, also brought him tremendous joy in his later years. He and four-year-old Claire would enjoy

many moments of creative adventures which filled Dan with much laughter and happiness.

It was Dan's personal relationship with Jesus Christ that allowed him to face the challenges in life, including his brave battle with three different types of cancer. After connecting with The Men's Ministry of the Rock Church, Dan made new friends, many of whom provided him with dear friendships and support. These men faithfully prayed alongside him during this very difficult journey. Dan will be remembered for his incredibly warm smile, great sense of humor, generosity, and kindhearted wise advice to those for whom he cared. Dan was loved by all and he will be deeply missed.