CW2 Daniel I. Thomas' Obituary
CW2 Daniel “Dan” Isaac Thomas, age 46, passed away on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Fort Leonard Wood in St. Robert, Missouri. He was born March 28, 1973, in Houston, Texas, to James Aiken Thomas III and his wife Leslie Elisabeth Thomas (Hyatt). Dan graduated from high school in 1991 from Cairo American College in Cairo, Egypt. He was active in sports, especially soccer, including road trips with the team to Germany during high school. Dan was an avid Denver Broncos and Auburn University fan. He attended Eastern Michigan University. His life-long hobbies were soccer and golf, and he could hit a golf ball as far as anyone. He was a member of the Camaro-Corvette Club, an avid Harley Davidson enthusiast, and loved firearms shooting, and hunting. Dan joined the U.S. Navy in the summer of 1990, after completing the 11th grade. After graduation he served as a Machinist’s Mate aboard the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Kitty Hawk, based out of Coronado, California, including serving in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm and sailing around the world. He later served in the Michigan Army National Guard with a deployment to Iraq with the 1436th Engineer Company as a heavy equipment operator. His military career grew over the years through the enlisted ranks to E7, Sergeant First Class at the 460th Chemical Company, Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan, eventually achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer CW2, “Chief” Daniel I. Thomas, serving as Army National Guard Senior Warrant Office Advisor at the Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Dan was the recipient of the Honorable Order of the Dragon. It is the Chemical Corps Regimental Association (CCRA) award to recognize a lifetime body of work for the Chemical Corps. It is a high honor, and to date Dan has been the only National Guard CBRN Warrant Officer to be awarded it. In order to get it you must meet stringent qualifications and your impact on Corps had to have been above and beyond what is expected. Dan was preceded in death by his mother, Christal Elisabeth Jackson (Leslie Elisabeth Hyatt), grandmother, Ramona Hines (Roth), grandfather, John Hines, grandmother De-Ann Thomas, grandfather, Jamie Thomas, and father-in-law, Richard “Rich” Eugene Ruel, and niece Gabrielle Ruel. Survivors are his wife of nearly 12 years, Brandy Lynn Thomas (Ruel), daughters Mary-Ashtyn Elisabeth Thomas and Jamie Abigail Snow Thomas, and their mother, Carrie Lynn Thomas (Duncan), step-son Dakota James Cripe (Jerilynne), step-daughters, Sara Marie Anes and Cassandra Jean Anes, father James A. Thomas III (Diane), aunt Deedee Thomas, step-father Charles “Burt” Jackson, twin brother David Aaron Thomas (Jill), brother-in-law Richard Eugene Ruel, Jr., cousin Jamie Lynn Loss (Mort), sister-in-law Julie Ruel, niece Kloey Ruel, uncle Phil Hyatt (Tracey), mother-in-law Jay Ann Ruel (Brady), step-brother Steven Douglas Jackson (Denise), step-sister Deborah “Debby” Ann Moore (Ryan), step-brother Clark Walker (Mindy), and step-sister Stacy Hyde (Chris). Dan dearly loved his grandchildren Jackson David Daniel Lutz and Roman Xavier Cripe. Dan was also survived by special friends Scott Fetterman, Chris Lieffers (Dawn), CW3 Robert Lockwood (Tasha), Bob Derby (Amy), Chuck Galarneau (Cathy), Larry Grennan (Tina), and Robert Bowyer (Dana). Dan loved the Lord Jesus and there are many souls in heaven today because of his ministry and Christian witness. He was active in DeColores en Cristo, serving with his wife, Brandy, as the President Couple, and as Rector of Weekend 288. Dan and Brandy attended and were members of Spring Lake Presbyterian Church, serving many years as directors of the youth group and participation in three mission trips to Honduras and seven youth mission trips. Dan volunteered for over three years with Operation Black Sheep in Muskegon, Michigan. Visitation will be at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral Home, 6291 Harvey Street, Norton Shores, Michigan, 49444, Sunday, March 8, 2020, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Funeral Service will be at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 2929 McCracken Street, Norton Shores Michigan 49441, Monday, March 9, 2020, at 2:00 PM, with full military honors. A luncheon will be served following the funeral at VFW Post 8846, 1061 Witham Road, Muskegon, Michigan 49445. Burial will be at Egelston Township Cemetery, 5762 Evanston Avenue, Muskegon, Michigan 49442, Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at 2:00 PM. Donations may be sent to the family, or to Operation Black Sheep (www.opblacksheep.org), or to DeColores en Cristo (www.decoloresencristo.org). Sign the guestbook online at www.sytsemafh.com
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