Robert D."Bob" Daane, 83, Sturgis, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016, surrounded by his family, at his home in Sturgis.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 15, with the family present, with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 16, 2016, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis. The Rev. Timothy Castor will officiate. Burial with military honors will be 10:00 am Tuesday, May 17, at Black Hills National Cemetery.

Bob was born August 13, 1932, in Faith, SD, the oldest of the 12 children of Elmer and Blanche (Wagner) Daane. He attended grade schools in Montrose, CA, Yakima, WA, Bakersfield, CA, and Brawley, CA, as his parents worked migrant jobs during the Great Depression. He was 9 years old when his family finally settled in Sturgis in 1941, the first year he spent a full year in one grade school. He graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in 1950.

In 1952, during the Korean War, Bob enlisted in the Army and was assigned to an Artillery unit in Europe, rising to the rank of Sergeant. Upon his return in 1954, he worked in Wyoming oil fields, farmed, and tended bar.

He was married to Kathryn Donnenwirth on August 17, 1957, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis. While working evenings at Gunner's Lounge, he completed his bachelor's degree on the GI bill at Black Hills State Teacher's College in 1961. He also reenlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard in 1958 and was selected for, and completed, Officer Candidate School.

In 1961, he commenced his career in the Meade County school district teaching Jr. High math and science. During school year 1965-66, he attended San Jose State College on a National Science Foundation grant. Upon his return to Sturgis in 1966, he was groomed by R.B. Williams as his assistant principal at the Jr. High, eventually assuming the principal position upon Mr. Williams' retirement. He obtained his master's degree from South Dakota State University and continued to serve as principal until 1984, when he resumed teaching math, at Sturgis Brown High School, until his retirement.

During his National Guard career, he served as the first commander of the 842nd Light Equipment Company in Spearfish, and later commanded the Headquarters Company of the 109th Combat Engineer Battalion in Sturgis. He was extremely proud to have then served as the commander of the 109th Engineer Battalion in Sturgis, and as President of the South Dakota National Guard Association. He was an officer in several units that won the prestigious Itscher Award, presented annually to the most outstanding engineer company in each Army component. He was also a regular instructor at Camp Rapid summer camps, and was elected Outstanding Instructor by his students on several occasions. He retired from the Guard in the rank of Colonel in 1986.

Bob was active in the Sturgis community, serving in the VFW, and the Lions and Elks clubs. His Guard units were active in service projects in Sturgis and throughout the Black Hills, including the construction of roads at Bear Butte and Custer State Parks and in preparation of the Jeff Smit memorial track. Bob also maintained the Sturgis sign on Sturgis hill for many years. He also led the National Guard mission up the Deadman channel in June 1972 to prevent the dam from repeating the tragedy in Rapid City.

Bob's hobbies were golf and "family things", a priority his children and grandchildren grew to love. He was also a founding member of the West River & Black Hills Epicurean & Reading Society, a/k/a The Cabin.

He is survived by his wife of over 58 years, Kathryn; three children, Janelle (Jeff) Rogers of Newcastle, WA, James (Tami) Daane of Sioux City, IA, and Jeffrey (Lori) Daane of Rapid City, SD; six grandchildren, May Rogers, Jillian (Michael) Hixson, and Nicholas, Brooke, Sydney and Benjamin Daane; a sister, Norma Frick of Anchorage, AK; eight brothers, Jon and William of Las Vegas, NV, Gerald, Donald, Ronald, Patrick, and Michael of Reno, NV, and Thomas of Canton, GA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James Daane; a sister, Joan Brunson; and a grandchild, Christopher Daane.

Memorials may be directed to the Sturgis Boy Scouts, in care of the Black Hills Area Council, 144 North St, Rapid City, SD 57701, or to St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery, in care of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 1049 Howard St., Sturgis, SD 57785.