Daniel L. Goldsmith

Daniel Leo Goldsmith peacefully passed away at home on September 29, 2023, holding the hand of his beloved wife of 75 years, Marge. Daniel was born in Remus, Michigan, to Louis and Bertha (Daniel) Goldsmith on September 6, 1927.  He was 96 at the time of his passing. 

Dan spent his early years in Larks Lake, Michigan, and later moved to Bear Creek Township where he lived the rest of his life.  He is a World War II veteran, having served in the Army Air Force. He did basic training at Langley Field, Virginia, and served the remainder of his time in the Pacific Theater.  On August 7, 1948, he married Marge Hausler of Boyne Falls, daughter of Floyd and Myrtle (Towns) Hausler. They built their home in Petoskey where they raised their four children.

In his early years, Dan worked as a well driller with his father and drilled many wells in the area including the flowing well that forms the pond at the base of Boyne Mountain.   In 1957 he went to work for the Alger Trucking Company and began hauling cement for the construction of the Mackinac Bridge.  In later years he went to work for Poquette Leasing Company as a heavy equipment/crane operator.

Dan was a charter member of the Petoskey Snowmobile Club and could often be seen tending the bean pot with his brother Bob during the Petoskey Christmas Open House.  Additionally, he was a charter member of the Northern Michigan Antique Flywheelers Club.  Dan was instrumental in the setup of their basket shop.  He restored and maintained the 100-year-old equipment with a close friend who located and donated the machinery.

He enjoyed camping with family and friends, initially tent camping locally, then later building his own pick-up camper in the garage.  Over the next 20 years he enjoyed taking his family to Disney World during their spring break.  In later years he graduated to a fifth-wheel camper and caravanned with close friends across the country visiting places like New York City, Utah National Parks and Branson, Missouri.

He was a jack-of-all-trades, master of most, enjoying many of his hobbies into his 80's and 90's.  In his spare time, he was a blacksmith, a trade he learned from his father.   He enjoyed tinkering, especially on his old Model A cars and trucks.  He was a beekeeper and for several years raised goats. He was an avid skier and skied Summit County, Colorado, with his family.  He also enjoyed kayaking, snowmobiling, bump jumper building and windsurfing, often windsurfing on Little Traverse Bay with his daughter.

Dan enjoyed working in the woods, hunting berries, mushrooms, leeks, and cutting firewood for his wood boiler.  At 94 he bought an electric chainsaw when he could no longer start his gas one.  Dan and Marge enjoyed music and dancing.  They often attended local Fiddler Jamborees.  His younger children and grandchildren will never forget their trips into the woods for a bonfire and marshmallow roast, riding in the Ski Boose behind their parent’s/grandparent’s snowmobiles. 

Dan created many wonderful memories with his family and friends.  However, he will be most remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather.

Dan is survived by his wife, Marjorie; his children, Judy (Rich) Conrad of Pellston, Dan (Ruth) of Petoskey, Wayne (Tammy) of Lowell, MI, and Tracy Youse of Arvada, C0;  grandchildren, Chris Burke, Meredith Keiser, Dan, Brian, and Greg Goldsmith, Kohl and Zane Goldsmith, and Elise Youse; great grandchildren, Caroline and Richard Burke, Taylor and Alex (Emily) Keiser, Takoda, Melanie, Joshua Goldsmith; great-great grandchildren, Elijah and Leevi Keiser; his sisters, Marion Carpenter and Arlene Rohrer along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law and his brothers, Casper, Walter, Leo, and Bob.

Dan’s faith was very important to him.  His maternal grandparents helped haul the foundation stones for St. Francis Xavier Church in Petoskey and his paternal grandparents were founding members of St. Nicholas in Larks Lake.  His funeral mass will be held on October 17, 2023, 11:00 AM, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Petoskey where he was a parishioner.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the mass.  A luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be sent to the Northern Michigan Flywheelers Club or a charity of their choice.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on his guestbook below.