Dwain Daniel Doak

Our brother, Dwain Daniel 'Danny' Doak passed away unexpectedly  on December 13th, leaving a space in our hearts that can't be filled.  Danny was born, May 26, 1954 in Portland, Oregon to Patricia Jean Cadwell and Dwain Lee Doak, their first son, joining an older sister, Cathy.  Despite a serious childhood illness and a congenital eye condition that severely impaired his vision, he jumped into life with both feet.  He didn't have much choice, as sister, Lisa and brothers, Eric and David quickly followed Dan, creating a home that was never boring and frequently bordered on chaos.

Our dad, whom Danny admired very much, coached him in baseball and basketball, fostering his love of sports and competition.  Basketball was clearly Dan's favorite.  Like Walter Mitty, as our mom used to call him, he would shoot hoops for hours imagining himself as 'Pistol Pete'.  Dan competed in the World Arm Wrestling Championship in Petaluma, California, an accomplishment of which he was justifiably proud.  As a family, we cheered him on.  Dan also played in a weekend football league with friends and when he 'aged out' of that activity, became an ardent Oregon Duck's fan.  Dan never did anything halfway.

A friend once said, "It's almost more entertaining to watch Dan than the game."  He was into every call, every touch down, his enthusiasm contagious.  A picture of Autzen Stadium occupied a prominent place on his living room wall and his uniform was a well worn Oregon ball  cap and Oregon sweatshirt or jacket.

Dan spent the majority of his working career as a greenskeeper, first at Waverly Country Club and later at Heron Lakes.  He made many friends and was known for the occasional pranks he played on co-workers to bring a little levity to the difficult, demanding work.  His wicked sense of humor is something we have all experienced.  Danny could make you laugh until you were rolling on the floor, with tears in your eyes.  His quick wit and gift for understatement made the hard times easier and the good times better.

Danny was an accomplished magician, teaching himself magic on his lunch hour and entertaining at family parties.  He loved whitewater rafting.  He was an excellent cook.  He was a talented writer, writing a mystery novel set in St. Andrews, Scotland just waiting for a publisher.  Dan had a strong fashion sense and even when his best friend made serious fun of his choices, wasn't stopped from continuing to dress on the cutting edge of style.  He was our renaissance man.

Danny attended college later in life, enrolling in a program to become a drug and alcohol counselor.  He studied hard, was admired by the younger student population and was dedicated to making a difference.  He mentored those who were struggling with addiction and always put the needs of others before his own.

Family and friends were everything to Dan.  Keeping those bonds, sharing in the happy times and the sad were at the center of his heart.  He was devastated when our dad died at the age of 46 and it profoundly affected his life from that point forward.

They say the true measure of a person is how he treats those who are weaker or less fortunate.  Danny was always kind and generous to homeless people and had an affinity for the elderly.  His love and devotion to all animals, especially his own, was unparalleled.  A friend of over 40 years put it this way, "The Danny I knew was super smart.  He had a very kind heart and would help anyone in need, loved animals, small children and Mynah birds.  Always happy, always laughing, he was the funniest person on earth and kept me laughing."

"Oh, how we miss you . . ."

Dan is survived by his mother, Patricia Jean Heiberg, sisters, Cathy Stinson and Lisa Kern and brothers, Eric Altman and David Doak.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oregon Humane Society or the Union Gospel Mission.