Daniel Morgan Church

Daniel Morgan Church passed unexpectedly July 6, 2017, in California. Daniel was born May 7, 1987, in Ketchikan. Almost immediately, Daniel, with a head of curly white hair, became a bit of a celebrity in the Little Norway of Petersburg. Harold Medalin, his neighbor, called him "Nissin" or Norwegian Elf. Daniel spent his early years in southeast Alaska. He attended elementary schools in Craig and Wrangell. Daniel's time in southeast Alaska fueled a passion for the sea, the Tongess National Forest and Native cultures.
After moving to North Pole, he attended school at North Pole Middle School and North Pole High School, and later, was the salutatorian of the first graduating class of the then new Hutchison High School. Daniel attended college at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Montana State University Billings and Bakersfield College.
Daniel was an avid bodybuilder and participated successfully in contests in Alaska and California. He also became a sports trainer and wrote fitness and nutrition plans for people. Daniel developed an incredible passion for history and his doctorate professors at Bakersfield College were amazed at the depth of his knowledge and commented that he should be teaching the history classes he was taking. Dan was an accomplished writer, and wrote his first book, "Rain Boys," in 2013. He wrote articles for Iron Affinity, Counter Punch, Flex magazines and Veterans for Peace. Daniel also developed videos under his pen name, "Danny Manslaughter," which presented a satirical picture of the bodybuilding world. He loved all music, and played the guitar and sang. Daniel was a champion for human rights and was extremely attuned to the injustices of the world and became a champion for all peoples oppressed and mistreated.
Daniel was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Claude and Rosa Church, and his maternal grandfather, Alan Ronningen. He is survived by his devoted parents, Leonard Church, of Fairbanks, and Judy Ronningen Church, of Bellingham, Washington; his maternal grandmother, Violet Ronningen, of Savage, Montana; cherished brother, Nathan Church, of Billings, Montana; his loving fiancée, Cheyenne Dakota; and his two sons, Nathan and Daniel Morgan Church II, of Bakersfield, California. He will be remembered and missed by family and friends in Alaska, California, Montana and throughout the country.
A celebration of life service was held for Daniel on July 21 at the Greenlawns Funeral Home in Bakersfield, California. Friends can visit his Facebook page and leave messages, and view Dan's obituary, share messages and send condolences to family online at http://www.greenlawnmortuaryandcemetery.com.
A celebration of life will be held in Fairbanks at a later date.