Captain Daniel Ray Gish (retired) Aug 4, 1965 - February 15, 2020 Daniel Ray Gish was raised in the mountains above San Bernardino in Crestline, California, where he learned to kill rattlesnakes with a shovel. As time moved on, he picked up further valuable life skills such as tearing cars apart and putting them together again, welding window well covers, and building giant dangerous bonfires. His family soon saw he had the heart of an artist as he created paintings, books, and poetry. He was able to use his welding skills to shape unique sculptures from ordinary metal and glass. While he enjoyed skiing, hiking, and working out at the gym, he could also be found attending symphonies and Shakespeare plays. Dan early discovered three things he loved: First, motorcycles. At the age of eight, after his father offered to buy him half a motorcycle, he picked strawberries and did odd jobs, refusing to quit until he earned enough money for the other half of his first motorcycle. He tore up the yard riding circles on it until he was legal to ride on the street. Second, he loved animals from huge dogs to angry iguanas, and he gathered them all into his life. Third, he was fascinated by fire. He watched it writhe and crackle through different kinds of materials like something alive, and made up his mind to be a fireman. Every little boy wants to be a fireman, but Dan was relentless in achieving that goal. After returning from a mission to Fort Lauderdale for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he began testing for his dream job. Despite the hard work and grueling hours he never gave up, holding part-time positions as he continued testing. In 1990 he was hired by the Salt Lake City Fire Department, the very night his first daughter Sunny was born. Additional training as a Hazmat Specialist took him into dangerous situations and he was called to help as a HazMat Technician with FEMA at the World Trade Center after 9-11. Dan was promoted to Captain in 2004. He had an abundance of compassion for people down on their luck and he would often stop the fire truck to slip a $20 bill to the homeless. Dan was a man of raw honesty - he was transparent in his feelings, tender-hearted, and genuine. Despite his gentle soul, Dan was insatiably adventurous. Especially as a young man he was always up for anything, including biking to Lake Powell, pulling crazy water skiing/motorcycle/cliff jumping/snow skiing/you-name-it stunts, playing a dodgeball variation called "dodge-darts", pulling siblings on skateboards behind cars, setting off fireworks in the garage, playing catch with flaming alcohol-soaked rags, and of course eating a bunch of weird stuff. Dan showed immense strength and courage throughout his life. He struggled with depression even as a child, yet despite his life-long internal battles he was a generous, caring, and thoroughly enjoyable smart-ass. He took his own life on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Dan is survived by his wife Nita Gish; mother Myra Gish; siblings Doug Gish, Jerry Gish (Anne), and Wendy Gish; children Sunny Johnson (Derek), Crystal Gish, Gunnar Gish, and their mom Kelly Gish; and grandchildren Lucy and Eli Johnson. He is predeceased by his father Melvin, his son Cambell, and multiple giant dogs. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2020 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the LDS church at 1106 East 200 South, Pleasant Grove, UT. A viewing will be held Friday, February 21, from 6-8 p.m at Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem, as well as prior to services on Saturday from 9:30-10:30am at the church. Condolences may be offered and memories shared online at www.walkersanderson.com