Daniels, Theodore Edward

Theodore Edward Daniels

On June 1, 2010, Theodore Edward Daniels of Lake Tomahawk, Wis., passed away gently at Howard Young Medical Center in Minocqua, Wis. He was 86. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 12, at 3 p.m. at St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Minocqua, with visitation at Bolger Funeral Home in Woodruff, Wis., on Friday, June 11, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Ted was born April 30, 1924, in Aurora, Ill., to Theodore S. and Florence (Cogger) Daniels. He grew up in Batavia, Ill., and attended Batavia High School and then attended and graduated from Howe Military in 1942. There he studied for two years before being released early for the Korean War. One of the years at Howe he was given the honor of being “Cadet of the Year.”

He served three years in the U.S. Army Air Force where he flew a “Voltee Vibrater.” He was also an air traffic controller. After the Army Air Force, Ted attended Meinzinger Art School in Detroit, Mich., for two years and then the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts for three years. Upon completion of his schooling, he opened a painting and pottery studio in Manitowish Waters, Wis., and also worked as an instructor in the Wisconsin Rural Arts program through the University of Wisconsin Extension.

In 1951, he became an accredited judge of Fine Arts for the State of Wisconsin. He judged many shows and in one show he judged in Oneida County he met the love of his life, Helen Gary Daniels, of Rhinelander. He gave her a first prize. They were married June 12, 1954, in Rhinelander, and remained married until her death on May 21, 2008.

In 1956, they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they opened The Yankee Studio, an art and import shop, and worked there for 20 years before retiring. During that time he was also a member and on the board of directors for the Cedar Rapids Art Association and taught for the Art Association as well. He conducted private oil painting and watercolor classes for many years. He was also involved with See Magazine, a local arts magazine, for two years, and was a member of the Elks Club and American Legion.

Ted loved art, fishing, sailing, gardening, family and friends and loved to tell a good story. Ted and Helen moved back to Wisconsin in May 2007.

They are survived by their three children and three grandchildren: daughter Jane (Jerry) Matz and their son, Christopher; daughter Julie (Bruce) Kuehl and their children, Clayton and Kendra; and son Thomas Daniels.

Theodore was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Florence Daniels; sister, Dorothy (Robert) Spargur; and his wife, Helen.

He was like a father to many … he will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested for St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Minocqua.

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