VISITATION will be held 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, December 10, 2017 at the funeral home.
The MINISTER will be Jerry Johannigmeier.
INTERMENT will be in Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri.
The family suggest any MEMORIAL donations be made to the Appleton City Alumni Scholarship Fund or First Christian Church.
Daniel Gene Minich, 62, of Appleton City, Missouri, was born October 8, 1955 in Clinton, Missouri to Emmett Earl and Mary Lou (Hickman) Minich. Dan’s early years were spent on his great-grandfather Minich’s farm east of Montrose, near LaDue, Missouri, where he was taught to work, and raised with a very strong work ethic. One of his earliest memories was driving a tractor pulling a wagonload of soybeans from the farm near Montrose to the grain elevator at LaDue when he was seven years old.
While he was in grade school, due to the building of Truman Dam, his family moved to a farm four miles south of Appleton City. He continued to live in this area throughout his adult life. He graduated from Appleton City High School in 1973. He enjoyed sports, especially playing basketball. He made many good friends during this time. He has remained very close to these friends throughout his life.
Upon graduating, Dan began farming in partnership with his parents, raising row crops and operating Cloverleaf Dairy. After selling the dairy, Dan and Karen continued raising row crops and beef cattle in St. Clair and Bates Counties.
Dan married Karen Gail Snyder on December 31, 1976 at Park Grove Christian Church. This was the beginning of a loving, devoted partnership that has endured over 40 years. During this time they were blessed with three daughters: Traci, LeAnn, and Megan; as well as six precious grandkids.
In addition to farming, Dan became a relief rural mail carrier in 1985, eventually taking a full time route. Dan enjoyed the many patrons he served in the Appleton City, Montrose, and Rockville areas, as well as his co-workers at the Postal Service.
Dan was a public servant, and enjoyed serving on the Appleton City School Board for several years, and the Appleton City Road Board for several years until the family moved to Bates County. He then served on Hudson Road Board and Hudson School Board. He was a man of his word, honorable in his business and personal dealings.
Dan accepted Jesus at an early age at Round Prairie Baptist Church. He later moved his membership to Appleton City Christian Church, where he served as Deacon, Elder, and on the church board. He had a strong faith in Christ, and tried to live as an example of that faith. Dan had a happy, upbeat, easy-going nature and enjoyed teasing people every chance he could. He was a generous man, willing to help others in any way possible. He will be missed by his family and those who knew him. Dan was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, David E. Minich.
He leaves his wife of 40 years, Karen; daughters, Traci (Steve) Uptegrove, LeAnn (Justin) Bull, of Appleton City, Megan (Cord) Pflug of Belton, Missouri; grandchildren: Jacob, Lydia, and Ava Uptegrove, Tristin and Ethan Bull, and Spencer Pflug; his sister, Diane Thatcher, of Apopka, Florida; sister-in-law, Verna Rae Minich of Galena, Missouri; Parents-in-law, Harold and Catherine Snyder of Lowry City, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Kay (Mitch) Miller, and Diana (Tony) Smith of Clinton, Missouri; brother-in-law, Jim (Joann) Snyder of Lowry City, Missouri, as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and cousins.
