Daniel
James Amos
Nov. 16,
1988 – April 18, 2014
Daniel
James Amos, 25 years young, of Big Coulee, S.D. journeyed to the
spirit world with his family by his side on Good Friday, April 18,
2014 at the Sanford Hospital-ICU in Fargo, N.D. An all-night wake
service was held April 24, at the Big Coulee District Center in Big
Coulee, SD. Rev. Enright Bighorn, Sr. officiated and the Big Coulee
Choir sang hymns from the church where Daniel was baptized. Funeral
services were held on April 25 at 2 p.m. at the Ascension
Presbyterian Church in Big Coulee, S.D. Active pallbearers were
William Langdeaux, Jr. and Raymond Eagle. Honorary pallbearers are
Daniels family and all the staff at his various hospital and
treatment stays.
Daniel
James Amos was born in Sisseton, S.D. on Nov. 16, 1988 to the late
Calvin Amos, Sr. and still-living, Susan Quinn (Amos) both of
Sisseton. From that day on, Daniel was always smiling. He had an
adventurous boyhood growing up a country boy with his older brothers
Kevin and the late Calvin Amos, Jr. by his side. Daniel always had a
plan and that plan was to see how tough he was, and he is the
toughest young man ever known to his family.
Daniel
attended Wilmot Public School from grade school to high school. He
was the class clown because he would do or say anything to get you to
laugh or smile. Daniel, known as the jokester in his school age years
had been diagnosed on Jan. 14, 2002, with osteosarcoma, a rare bone
marrow cancer. It has always been remembered as he learned this on
the one-year memorial of Calvin Amos, Jr., his oldest brother.
Daniel
underwent a year of chemo and radiation therapies. He showed
osteosarcoma how strong of a warrior he was and his victory helps
save the lives of many children who have the same diagnosis. Dan’s
doctors and care team from the University of Minnesota-Fairview, Mayo
Clinic and Masonic Cancer Center of Minneapolis, Minn. are forever
grateful and respectful for his commitment to the research and cure
of such a rare cancer as osteosarcoma. Thankfully, his roller coaster
ride with cancer was resolved after the year of chemo and radiation.
He was in remission although he has had multiple surgeries including
an open heart surgery in November of 2012.
Although
Daniel came to know only hospitals, he never once gave up or lost his
big, contagious smile. He continued to make friends wherever he went;
he still showed his “crazy” sense of humor and always assured a
good joke with plenty of room to laugh. Daniel continuously dusted
himself off from his medical treatments and moved on the work a
variety of jobs including the Dakota Sioux Casino, Big Sioux Nursery
Tree Farm, Roofing while in Rapid City, S.D., and helping his
stepfather, Daren, renovate houses around the Sisseton area. While
working, Daniel attended Alcoholics Anonymous and his aftercare
meetings, which were a priority and accomplishment for all the
struggles and unforeseen medical events that occurred in this young
man’s life.
Daniel
found humor in everything even when his world would crumble around
him. He would rise above the tribulations with a smile and no
regrets. Dan did not believe in holding grudges or anger. He never
lost his optimism. As he would say, “go with the flow, gotta stay
positive.” His hopefulness and sense of humor is what encouraged
all who were around him to look on the bright side.
Daniel was
a young man who enjoyed visiting with family, being outdoors in
nature, lending a hand to all who needed it and being all around
unique in his own way. There truly is no one quite like Daniel. He
loved listening to music, writing in his journal, reading and
doodling whatever he had on his mind. Daniel was a natural engineer
with everything he got his hands on such as fixing lawnmowers,
stereos, bikes, anything that can be took apart and fixed or
modified, he would do it. He and his brother, Kevin, are the
‘mechanics’ of the family. Daniel was part-time mechanic and
part-time chef. He loved to chef it up. He had a passion for fishing.
Daniel could be out by the lake for hours.
Daniel is
forever in spirit and memory. He was a man of character,
intelligence, compassion, respect, courage, humor and integrity. The
memories of who Daniel was and how much of an impact he’s made on
our lives is what has made his life, a life well-lived and fulfilled.
The Lord saw his suffering and struggle to continue going uphill. Our
Heavenly Father has freed this son, brother, uncle and cousin of his
earthly battles and we can rest assured that he is happy, healthy and
always with us in spirit.
Daniel’s
spirit lives on by his mother, Susan Quinn (Amos); stepfather, Daren
Amos; one brother, Kevin Amos, all of Sisseton; four sisters, Tricia
Amos of Big Coulee (Peever), S.D.; Angela Leal (Amos) of Port Lavaca,
Texas; Christy Amos; and Lorraine Amos, both of Sisseton. He also
lives on through many nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, cousins and
friends.
He is
preceded in death by his father, Calvin Amos, Sr.; one brother,
Calvin Amos, Jr.; paternal grandmother, Clara Small, all of Big
Coulee (Peever); maternal grandfather, Clifford Quinn; paternal
aunts, Kim Amos, both of Sisseton, SD and Rochelle Amos of Big Coulee
(Peever), SD; maternal uncles, Harlan Amos Jr. of Sisseton and Robert
Richotte, Sr. of Sisseton; numerous cousins, Duran Richotte of
Sisseton; Melissa Thompson of Fargo, N.D.; David Roberts of Geyser,
Mont.; Robert Richotte, Jr. of Sisseton; Chastity Owen-Amos of
Watertown, S.D.; and Angelica Aadland of Wilmot, S.D.
The
Chilson Funeral Home in Winsted, Minnesota is serving the family.
Online condolences may be made to www.chilsonfuneralhome.com.
