Daniel “Boone” Sexton, age 82 of Waverly, died
Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000, in Coon Rapids, Minn.
Daniel was born in Victor Township, Minn., June 2, 1918,
to John and Mary Sexton, the third of nine children.
Raised on a farm, Daniel loved to hunt, fish, and fix things
as a child. He was nicknamed “Boone,” after Daniel Boone, by
a classmate. He graduated from Howard Lake High School.
On Oct. 9, 1937, Daniel joined the Civilian Conservation
Corps (C.C.C.), where he planted trees and worked on roads until he was
discharged March 1, 1938. He also served in the Works Progress Administration
(W.P.A.) from 1938 to 1941.
Daniel married Murl Priscilla Cochran July 31, 1941, in
Clinton, Iowa.
On March 24, 1942, he enlisted in the Navy, where he became
an aircraft mechanic and was stationed in Rhode Island. He was transferred
to Wold Chamberlain, Minneapolis, in 1944; and honorably discharged from
the Navy in September 1945.
Daniel and Murl then started their family of five girls
and two boys, who produced 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Daniel’s first job was as an auto mechanic at St. Anthony
Motors, which later became Larson Chevrolet.
He and Murl purchased their first home in Columbia Heights.
In 1955, they moved to a larger house in northeast Minneapolis to accomodate
their growing family.
Daniel served as shop steward for the Teamsters and later,
became a business agent for Local 974 and Joint Council 32.
He retired in 1980 to their 35-acre hobby tree farm in
Princeton, Minn., known as “Boone’s Farm,” where Daniel loved
driving his Ford tractor and planting crops for feeding wildlife.
In 1991, they moved back to Waverly, to be close to Daniel’s
brothers and sisters.
While in Waverly, Daniel started a hobby of woodworking,
making bird feeders, wishing wells, and many hand-crafted items. He enjoyed
giving his crafts to family and friends.
A highlight of recent travels was a trip back to Rhode
Island to see the house and Naval base where he and Murl were stationed
during W. W. II.
One of Daniel’s great loves was the Canadian fly-in fishing
and hunting trips he took.
A treasured family memory are Daniel’s great stories of
his life events, told with detailed accuracy and total recall.
He was a safety net to all his children. He could fix or
build anything from a house to a broken heart.
Daniel had a great work ethic with very high standards.
He was always honorable, fair, loyal, caring, generous, and trustworthy.
To his family, Daniel was a true hero.
Daniel was preceded in death by his loving and devoted
wife Murl, who passed away Aug. 14, 1997; his parents John and Mary Sexton;
brothers, Gervase, William, Robert, Frank, L. Kenneth, and Jerome; and son-in-law,
Douglas Monette.
He is survived by sons, Patrick (Donna) and Daniel, all
of Brooklyn Park; daughters, Sandra Monette of Fridley, Sally Sexton of
Blaine, Jean Johnson of Fridley, Linda (Jackey) Curtis of Ham Lake, and
Jill Sexton of Coon Rapids; grandchildren: Douglas (Emily) Monette, Thomas
Monette, Stacy and Amy Sexton, Nicole and Michelle Johnson, Michael, Melissa,
and Katie Sexton; and Joe and Molly Curtis; and great-granddaughter Tanner
Monette.
Daniel is further survived by sisters, Mary Painschab of
Waverly and Kathleen Stifter of Robbinsdale; sisters-in-law, Eleanore Sexton,
Mary Hurley, and Kathleen Sexton; brother-in-law, Cletus Stifter; nieces,
nephews, cousins, and many friends.
Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday, Aug. 12, 11 a.m.,
at St. Mary’s Church of Waverly, with the Revs. Robert Wiley and Gerald
Keefe officiating. Music was by Mae Wannarka and St. Mary’s Choir. Interment
followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Waverly.
Visitation was Friday, Aug. 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Swanson-Peterson
Funeral Home, Howard Lake; and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Casket bearers were Patrick Sexton, Thomas Monette, Stacy
Sexton, Michelle Johnson, Daniel Sexton, Joseph Curtis, Amy Sexton, Molly
Curtis, Katie Sexton, Douglas Monette, Michael Sexton, Nicole Johnson, and
Melissa Sexton.
Arrangements were by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home, Inc.,
Cokato and Howard Lake.
Back to Current Obituary List
| Obituary Archive Menu
Leave a Reply