Dr. Daniel J. Graham's Obituary
Dr. Daniel James Graham passed away unexpectedly April 7th 2016 at his home in Spring Lake. His family and friends will miss him very much.
He was born March 27, 1951 to Arthur and Iva Matheson Graham in Grand Haven. Arthur’s work took the family to several different cities, but they settled in Spring Lake and Dan graduated from Spring Lake High School in 1969.
He graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan in 1973. After working at Ypsilanti State Hospital Center for Forensic Psychology and as a child protective services worker for several years, he felt the calling to practice medicine and enrolled in Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. He returned to the area and opened his family practice in 1985.
He married Jan Parmelee, his “high school sweetheart” as he was fond of calling her, on August 30th, 1975. They had three children, Sarah, Matthew and Cameron and welcomed son-in-law Lars Wasvick to the family in 2015.
He served the community as a family physician for 31 years. He also served on the Spring Lake Board of Education for many years and as president of the West Michigan Osteopathic Association.
Dan was a man of many talents and passions. His first love was music. He played in rock bands throughout high school and again formed a band called The Cure upon returning to the area in the 1980s. He and several high school friends got together to perform for the Spring Lake High School class reunion in 2009. Recently, he was building a recording studio in his home.
He was also an avid sports fan. He faithfully rooted for his Wolverines, Tigers, Lions and Pistons. He loved basketball and played the game until his knees gave out, then took up golf. Although he enjoyed travel, home was his favorite place. He loved strolling around the yard with his beloved dog, Sergeant Pepper. He could often be found in the gazebo, reading a book and listening to a Tigers game. His home office was his fortress. There he read, watched sports, played his guitar and listened to music, often all at the same time. He enjoyed hosting family gatherings where his laughter could usually be heard above all the others’.
He loved his work. He was one of the last old-school family doctors. He was a friend to his patients and always took time to listen to their problems or share a joke.
In addition to his wife and children, he leaves behind his mother, Iva, sisters and brothers-in law Maggie and Jerry Jensen, and Julie and Craig Yoas, brother Arthur and wife Valerie, and his aunt, Lois Matheson. He is also survived by his loving in-laws, Judy and Wally Cosier, Bonnie Jacoby, and Walker and Gayle Parmelee and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Gathering for Dan will be from 1-3 PM Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home in Grand Haven. The family invites you to visitation from 5-8 PM Tuesday also at the funeral home. Interment will be in Spring Lake Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the Organization for Autism Research (http://www.researchautism.org/support/donate/index.asp) will be appreciated. To share memories with the family, please visit us online at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
The family is being served by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home of Grand Haven.
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