Robert "Dan" Daniel Gescheider

Robert Daniel “Dan” Gescheider, age 51, passed away suddenly while working in Flagstaff, Arizona Thursday, June 1, 2023.

He was born February 18, 1972 in Weirton, West Virginia, the son of Eugene William “Bill” Gescheider, III who survives and Judith (Daily) Gescheider who passed away in 1993.

Dan was employed as an archaeological field technician for PaleoWest, LLC. Three weeks prior to his death, Dan graduated from Northern Arizona University and earned his Master of Arts in Anthropology with a 4.0 GPA and his concentration was archaeology. Last year, he conducted work and research in western Belize that included ancient Maya ritual caves.   

Dan was an Army Veteran and he attended the Defense Language Institute at both Fort Gordon, Georgia and Monterey, California where he earned his Iraqi Dialect Certificate and Diploma in Modern Standard Arabic. He also directed Live Environment Training and provided translation guidance to multiple United States soldiers. Dan was an Arabic translator and he taught native Arabic speakers English.

Dan traveled to many countries exploring ancient ruins, international landmarks, museums and artifacts. His travels led him to Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Thailand, Qatar, Bahrain, Honduras, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Cuba and he enjoyed documenting those adventures with photographs.

Dan attended Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia where he earned his Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree with a concentration in Fine Arts/Minor: History. Dan was a brother of Sigma Nu and continued to live the life, the way and the light of the fraternity.

Dan placed number 10 of his 1990 graduating class at Toronto High School, Toronto, Ohio. 

Dan will also be remembered for his excellent artistic abilities and talent such as playing the electric guitar and drawing, painting and sculpting.

In addition to his mother, Judith, he was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, C.W. “Bud” Daily and wife, Eileen and his paternal grandparents, Eugene William “Bill” Gescheider, II and wife, Mary Helen.

Dan is survived by his brother, Eugene William “Bill” Gescheider, IV (companion Kathy McGrath) and sister, Anne Eileen (Gescheider) Allison (companion Scott Shevelow); nephews, Luke Gescheider and Mark Gescheider and nieces, Summer Gescheider, Autumn Allison and Lily Allison.

Visitation hours for Dan will be held 1-3pm and 5-7pm Thursday June 15th at the Clarke Funeral Home, Toronto followed by a celebration service of Dan’s life at 7pm Thursday. Pastor Rob Minto will officiate the service. Full military honors will be presented in honor of Dan at the funeral home following his service.

Donations may be sent to Dan's family or the Clarke Funeral Home to help with expenses. 

To send condolences, go to www.clarkefuneralhome.com

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