Daniel Merle Clawson 82, passed on August 27, 2024, in his Manhattan, Kansas home overlooking the lake, surrounded by the love of his life, Jayette, family, and friends.
Born July 31, 1942, to U.S. Army officer Samuel Clawson and his wife Helen, Daniel was the second eldest of five children. Daniel pursued the family tradition of service, joining the U.S. Army.
Following his retirement in the late 1960s as a Disabled Veteran, he transitioned to become a civil servant supporting the Department of Defense for the U.S. Army and NOAA. In the early 1980s the family relocated from Texas to Northern Virginia where Daniel served in many capacities including the Chief, Army Acquisition Corps Management Office, Officer Personnel Management Directorate, Personnel Command; Chief, Career Management Operations, Personnel Command; and the Civilian Personnel Advisor to the Army Surgeon General, headquarters, Department of the Army. During this time, Daniel continued advancing his education, completing Graduate Studies at George Mason University and Executive Leadership at the Federal Executive Institute.
In 1996 Daniel and Jayette moved to Fort Riley, Kansas where Daniel became the Director of the Southwest Personnel Operations Center and later U.S. Army Benefits Center. As the senior department of army civilian for Fort Riley, Daniel was exceedingly proud of his time spent building and leading the men and women of these organizations.
At the conclusion of forty-three years of federal and military service, Daniel retired in 2003 and began his tenure as the CEO of Virtual Team Works, devoting the next eleven years to supporting the U.S. government in a consulting capacity.
After fifty-four years of employment, Daniel and Jayette began traveling with some favorite locations being Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, and Europe. They also enjoyed ballroom dancing, following big bands, and traveling back to the east coast to spend time with family.
Daniel was a lifetime member of the DAV, and the American Legion, as well as a proud founding member of the National Museum of the U.S. Army.
Daniel is survived by his wife Jayette of fifty-nine years and their three children, Jaylynn Viands (Mike Viands), Samuel Clawson (Carrie Clawson), and Nathaniel Clawson (Megan Clawson), seven grandchildren and spouses (Andy Viands (Taylor), Nick Viands (Nuzhat), Jessica Gogolin (Andrew), Daniel Clawson, Joshua Clawson, Bailey Clawson, and Zachary Clawson), and three great-grandchildren (Grayson Viands, Wesley Viands, and Anaya Viands).
Some of Daniel’s most memorable words of wisdom are the following:
People are good.
Realize a team accomplishes more together.
Life has challenges, face them, and enjoy.
Go Army and God Bless the U.S.A.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00a.m. Saturday September 21, 2024, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan. Private inurnment will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions in memory of Daniel are suggested to the Wound Warriors Project. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com