Daniel Quaas

DANIEL QUAAS Cedar Rapids Daniel Howard Quaas, of Lakeland, Fla., died April 11, 2014. Dan was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 20, 1951, to Bonnie L. (McGrew) and Howard G. Quaas. He grew up on the family farm in Marion, Iowa, near Robins. He graduated from Linn-Mar High School in 1969 and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He spent some years in Iowa, farming with his father and driving trucks, but the majority of his final years were spent living and working in Florida. While in Florida, he built his own tree topping machine for orange groves and ultimately worked as an over-the-road truck driver out of Lakeland, Fla. Dan was preceded in death by his father, Howard G. Quaas. He is survived by his mother, Bonnie L. (McGrew); first wife, Susan (Hernke) McLendon of Auburndale, Fla.; and their daughters, Brandi (Daniel Hamilton) of Lakeland Fla., and Amanda (Dietrich Nembhard), of Titusville, Fla.; his current wife, Mary (Smith) Quaas of Lakeland, Fla.; stepsons, Joshua Root and Zachary Root; and grandchildren, Kilah Kirby and Kaden Hamilton of Lakeland, Fla., and Malcolm Nembhard of Titusville, Fla. He is also survived by his siblings, Carole J. Quaas of Omaha, Neb., Stewart W. Quaas of Council Bluffs and Thomas A. Quaas of Bellevue, Neb.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A visitation was arranged in Lakeland on April 18, 2014, for family and friends in Florida. On April 26, a memorial gathering for family and friends was held at the home of Stewart and Cynthia Quaas in Council Bluffs. Two trees, a cherry and an apple, were planted by the children in Dan's memory. We all hope that he will be at peace on Cocoa Beach! If you wish to send the family messages via the web, please see the following site which should be accessible until April 2015: www.gentry-morrison. com/obituaries/Daniel-Quaas/.