Ryan Mortuary & Crematory | Gene Leslie Daniels obituary

Gene Leslie Daniels

July 27, 1935 - March 28, 2009

Gene Leslie Daniels, 73, Salina, died March 28, 2009 at his home after a long illness. He was born July 27, 1935, in Syracuse, Kansas. He graduated from Syracuse High School and attended South Western College and Colorado College. Mr. Daniels enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea in a MASH Unit as an army operating room specialist. Upon discharge from the service, he married Helen L. Shorter on April 21, 1962. They made their first home in Denver, Colorado where Gene attended Radiology Technologist School at General Rose Memorial Hospital. Gene and his family moved to Salina in 1970 after accepting a position at Asbury Hospital as the director of the Radiology Department. He worked for 28 years with Asbury Hospital, St. John’s Hospital and the Salina Regional Medical Center. Even after retirement, he continued to stay active in the medical community by working at Stat Care, Salina Clinic and the Orthopaedic Clinic.

Gene was a committed son, husband, father and grandfather. Gene is survived by his wife, Helen Daniels, his sons, Jeff Daniels of Overland Park, KS and Trevor Daniels of Salina, and daughters, Jill Daniels of Salina, Julie Roth of Holcomb, KS, and Janna Smith of Salina, and his special grandchild, Christie James, Jeff’s wife, Rebecca, and their children, Hope, Ian, Grace, Nigel and Gavin, Julie’s Husband, Jeff and their children, Kristin, Maddie, and Jordan, and Janna’s husband Curtis and children Logan, Christie and Zach.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents Leslie and Velma (Molz) Daniels, and sister, Genevieve Brown. He was an active church member of the United Church of Bennington, held leadership positions and continued membership with the American Radiological Society and he was a member of the Bennington Lion’s Club. Gene also had a special fondness for the staff and patrons of the Sunflower Adult Day Center. His life was dedicated to his family. From caring for his ailing mother, to attending sporting events of his kids, to enjoying musical concerts and plays, to watching his grand daughters in ballet, to learning about Tai Kwon Do, to riding combines and chasing down “Thomas the Train”, Gene gave great life energy to supporting and loving his family. Everyone who knew Gene knew his kids and grandchildren were his pride and joy. His family will miss him greatly.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the United Church of Bennington, with Rev. Harry Tysen and Rev. Warren Cico officiating. Interment will be in the Bennington Cemetery, Bennington. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. The family requests no flowers but suggests memorial contributions be made to Sunflower Adult Day Center, Hospice of Salina or the United Church of Bennington.