Daniel Thomas Flynn

I was born at Grandview Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on March 9, 1941 to the deceased parents of Mildred and Thomas Flynn. I grew up in Houston, Minnesota. I was preceded in death by my parents, brothers, Robert James and Stephen Anthony, and sister Patricia Ann Benson.

Growing up in Houston, I attended Houston public schools from grade 1 through 12. In my high school years, I was active in all sports. In fact, I excelled in football and made All Conference honors as defensive and offensive Half Back. I also participated in band and chorus. In band I was a state finalist as a Baritone Horn soloist, earning a superior rating at state contest my Junior and Senior years.

After completing high school, I attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota for two years. After those two years, I spent one year working as a laborer and a carpenter for G Houge and Sons, primarily building the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent, Minnesota. After working construction, I realized the value of a college education. And I enrolled at the University of Minnesota Winona. I completed a BA degree in Education in 1964. I then accepted a teaching position in Carpentersville, Illinois School District teaching 5th grade at the Lake Hills Elementary School for two years. During my teaching career I met the love of my life, Nancy Ann Gobert, who was teaching in the same district. We were married on August 21, 1965. During my teaching career in Illinois I supplemented my income as a waiter and bar tender at the Iron Skillet in Algonquin, Illinois and at Floyd’s Restaurant in Dundee, Illinois.

In 1967 I moved to Bloomington, Minnesota where we purchased our first house and I accepted a teaching position in Edina Public Schools teaching Science and Art at Concord Elementary School. I again felt a need for more income, so I tended bar at the Thunderbird Motel and Marriott Inn in Bloomington, as well as the King’s Inn in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Again realizing that teaching was not going to satisfy my financial needs for my family, I accepted a job as a Food Service Consultant with John Sexton and Company in 1970, figuring one good paying job would be better than two jobs so I could spend more time with my family. This proved to be true. In 1974 I was promoted to Sales Manager in the Sea-Tac Branch. My territory included Southern Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In 1978 the Sea-Tac Branch consolidated, and I transferred to Tacoma as Sales Manager of the whole John Sexton Branch. This included all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Montana. In 1983 I went back to being a Food Service Consultant working in the South Puget Sound area. This again proved to be successful. I became a member of the President Club that was the top 2% of the salesmen with the highest sales in the United States. S E Rykoff purchased John Sexton and Co. in 1983, which also proved to be a good move. I was named Salesman of the Year in 1989 for the Seattle Branch.

In 1999 International Food Service purchased Rykoff, Sexton and Co. I retired in 2000 after 30 years in the Food Service Industry.

In 2000, Nancy and I built our Dream House in Gig Harbor, Washington. After my retirement, we did some traveling on cruise ships to Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean Islands. I have spent my retirement years as a Volunteer Master Gardener as Manager of the Gig Harbor Farmer’s Market Clinics. I have enjoyed much living in Gig Harbor and hope to continue living here for the rest of my life.

I am especially thankful for my loving children Kerri, Tim, spouse Lauri, and grandchildren Taylor, Jake, and Colby and Krissy and spouse Pat and grandchild Colin.

I miss Nancy Immensely and hope someday to join her in her final resting place.

God bless you all and thanks for the time you took to read about me and my life. Amen.

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