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<p><em>Daniel Loren Rucker</em> was born January 24, 1972 in San Fernando, CA. He was baptized as a Lutheran in 1981. Dan exceled in academics at an early age and was named the eighth-grade valedictorian at First Lutheran School. Dan continued with his academic success at Bishop Alemany High School, where he also made noteworthy contributions to the wrestling, golf, and academic decathlon teams. Dan also invested in piano lessons, and he enjoyed playing. As a born leader, Dan had a natural way of connecting with people, and he forged strong bonds and lasting relationships with those that he would call his friends. His commitment to academic excellence and sports, as well as his leadership traits, earned him admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point upon his graduation from high school in 1990. </p>
<p>At West Point, Dan infused a fun-loving spirit into all those around him. Regardless of the time or place, Dan always found a way to turn any situation into an adventure and have a few laughs along the way. Dan continued to forge lasting friendships throughout his time at the Academy. He was always there to share in the good times and the bad and could be counted on in any circumstance. Dan always placed a priority on his friendships and throughout his life would drop everything at a moment’s notice to help someone having a tough time or to simply go have some fun. Whether it was trout fishing at Mammoth, chasing salmon in Alaska, tuna in Baja, elk in the Rockies, or whitetails in Texas, Dan loved the outdoors, and the adventures with friends and family there will never be forgotten. Anyone who was fortunate enough to call Dan a friend will always be grateful for the time spent together with Dan. </p>
<p>Upon graduation from West Point, Dan served with distinction during Operation Desert Storm as a Bradley Stinger platoon leader. During this time, he developed a new manual for the training and effective use of Bradley fighting vehicles equipped with Stinger missiles, which the United States Army and the country of Kuwait adopted as their new official standard. Dan effectively led his men with the foundations of friendships he made throughout his entire life; his soldiers knew he truly cared. Dan wholeheartedly invested into leading; that was something Dan loved to do. </p>
<p>After three and a half years of active duty military service, Dan continued his faithful service to our nation in the U.S. Army Reserves while he concurrently invested his leadership gifts and skills into business management with Dal Tile in Texas. Dan also briefly served with a bio-tech company named First Scientific in Utah, but his heart strings were tied to Texas, where he returned to Dal Tile to excel for them in the area of national sales. Dan, a natural at winning friends and influencing people, went on to soar in national sales for Atrium Windows and Doors and SRS Distribution.</p>
<p>Dan completed his master’s degree in 2006 from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, University Park, TX. Dan was married to the former Jennifer Wiley of Midland, TX for five years; they attended St. Andrew United Methodist Church, and they had no children. </p>
<p>Dan was always a leader, a hard charger, and could figure a way to get anything accomplished with speed, style, and grace. Everyone loved Dan and was happy to work with him or to count on him as a friend. He was fun loving and knew how to enjoy life. Dan loved all aspects of life, but some of his favorites things were friends and family, Alice’s Spanish rice, pork chops and peach pie, deep sea fishing in Baja, adventures with West Point friends, Country Western music, playing the piano, his dog Daisy, riding his Harley Davidson, trout fishing in the Sierra Nevada, surfing at Zuma and El Pescador beaches, ranges, obstacle courses, working out, golfing, and hunting. If there was an adventure to be found, Dan would find it, and he did everything with great enthusiasm. </p>
<p>Daniel tragically died February 3, 2017 in Irving, TX. He is survived by his mother, Margaret; father and stepmom, Loren and Alice; siblings Marti Mallinen and Lisa Duncan, and her husband, Mathew Duncan, and their three children: Tait, Jagger, and Ella; a step grandmother, Betty Eileen Geist; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and the many friends he shared life with over the years. </p>
<p>Three words sum up the life of Daniel Loren Rucker: intelligent, kind, and loving! He was a friend for life to those who were fortunate to have joined in his adventures! Well Done, Dan; Be Thou at Peace. </p>
<p><em>—Written by Class of 1994 and the Loving Family of Daniel Loren Rucker </em></p>
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