Henry Daniel Saastamoinen

Henry Daniel "Dan" Saastamoinen passed away on Monday, January 12, 2009, at Thomason Memorial Hospital, El Paso, Texas, at the age of 87. He was Born Heikki Daniel Saastamoinen to Niilo and Emma Saastamoinen on March 24, 1921, In Hibbing, Minnesota. Dan served his country in the United States Army from October 1942 to December 1945, including deployment to Australia and New Guinea. He graduated from Northern Michigan college of Education in 1953 with a Bachelors of Science Degree, then from Florida State University in 1965 with a Masters Degree. He met the love of his life in Clara Farwell, and they were married August 26, 1955, in Napolean, Ohio. In 1965, the family moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where Dan worked for New Mexico State University as a Reference Librarian until his retirement in 1986. Dan was preceded in death by his beloved wife Clara and one son, Kevin. He is survived by sisters Elizabeth Hamel of Las Cruces, and Rachel Miller of Sarasota, FL; daughter, Kelly and husband Gary Glazner of Lancaster, California; son Craig and wife Marian Renee of Las Cruces; daughter Kim and husband Todd Garrison of Las Cruces; daughter Alison and husband Stacy Beene of buckeye, Arizona; grandchildren Ryan Glazner, Kristen Ezmirly, Courtney Moore, Caitlyn Concha-Longdon, Cassie Odom, Lonnie Garrison, Sharon Garrison, Christopher Garrison, Haddie Garrison, Katie Garrison, Evangelista Saastamoinen, Erica Saastamoinen, Bethany Beene, Jason Beene, and Emily Beene; great-grandchildren Kael Amador and Chaylen Odom. Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, 2009 at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church, 106 S. Miranda, Las Cruces, with Pastor Maurice Hollingsworth officiating. In lieu of flowers, Dan suggested that donations be made to the New Mexico State University Library or the First Baptist church. PDF Printable Version