Daniel Gerard Rowley of Rudyard was a special education paraprofessional at the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District’s Rudyard Service Center. Mr. Rowley passed away unexpectedly Monday, August 2, 2010.

Mr. Rowley, known to friends as “Dan-O” and “Dan the Man,” enjoyed his work with special needs children; working with “his” kids was his life. He had a positive attitude, friends said, and he made people smile. Every Christmas season he portrayed Santa Claus, bounding in the door bellowing, “Ho-ho-ho - Merry Christmas!”

He also cherished spending time with his stepson and two grandchildren. Fourwheeling and picking blueberries were favorite pasttimes when they were together. He valued his family and cherished time spent with them.

Mr. Rowley is survived by his stepson, Adam Bogacki, and two granddaughters, Emma and Ellie of Rudyard; three sisters, Rosemarie Rowley of East Pointe, Mary Rowley, and Michelle Rowley of Sacramento, California; two brothers and their families, Kevin and Laura Rowley of East Pointe, Patrick and Honey May Rowley of Paradise; and nieces and nephews, Jennifer, Megan, Christine, Honey Marie, Katie, John, Zack, and JP.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rose (nee Donnelly) Rowley.

Visitation was Sunday, August 8, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Clark Bailey Newhouse Funeral Home in St. Sault Ste. Marie. Visitation and a funeral mass was Monday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Paradise, followed by mass at 11 a.m. with Father Frank Ricca as celebrant.

Memorials may be directed to the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District for the purposes of assisting students with special needs for projects that reflect Mr. Rowley’s character and love of life.