Ronald Paul "Ronnie" Daanen

1972 - 2023

Ronald "Ronnie" Paul Daanen died tragically in a helicopter crash at Lake Itinik on the North Slope of Alaska on July 20, 2023.

He was born May 10, 1972, to Henk and Wesselina Daanen at his family home in Groesbeek, The Netherlands (NL). As the youngest of six children, he spent a lot of time playing, tinkering, and exploring the world on the family farm.

Ronnie achieved an extensive education that would serve him well in adulthood. After graduating from high school, he received an Associate's degree in arboriculture from the 't Vanck Horticultural School in Nijmegen (NL), followed by a Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from the University of Groningen (NL), where he designed plant-based wastewater treatment systems. He then received a Master's degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Wageningen (NL), where he modeled water flow and heat transport in snow-covered arable soil in Finland. During his studies in Finland, he met Ina Timling, the woman who would become his wife and the mother of their twins, Annemarie and Tane Timling.

In 1997 he moved to the U.S. to pursue a Ph.D. in water resource science at the University of Minnesota (MN), modeling liquid water flow in snow. At the same time, he developed and implemented wastewater treatment and agricultural drainage systems for rural areas in Northern Minnesota.

After graduating in 2004, he used his efficient packing skills to load up the family's Subaru and moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, with his wife and twins.

In Alaska, Ronnie was a post-doctoral fellow and research associate at the Department of Mining and Geological Engineering and the Geophysical Institute, as well as a research professor at the Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks. There he studied and modeled multiple aspects of the interactions among permafrost, groundwater and soil movement, taught several classes, supervised students, designed and developed drainage and irrigation systems for Alaska Peatland Experiments and led expeditions to study permafrost and snow across the North Slope of Alaska.

In 2013, Ronnie began working for the State of Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys as a permafrost and groundwater expert managing the Geohydrology Program.

He was involved in many diverse projects, applying his broad expertise, sharp intellect, and practical fieldwork skills to many issues in Alaska. Ronnie made exceptional contributions to the understanding of permafrost, its distribution, and the impacts of its projected change in a warming climate across Alaska, from the alpine slopes in Southeast to the North Slope. Ronnie's service to the people of Alaska through his work on geologic hazards was particularly notable. In 2020 Ronnie was a critical member of the landslide hazard response team which sacrificed personal safety during the height of the pandemic to provide critical geologic hazards support to Haines, Alaska, in the wake of the deadly Beach Road landslide. Although his list of publications is long, he had so much more to share with the world.

While Ronnie led an accomplished academic life, his personal life spoke even more volumes. He was a loving and caring husband and father. He treated people with respect, sincerity and made them feel seen. His warm smile and good-natured humor brightened those around him, even in the toughest of situations, such as fieldwork in remote Alaska. He could bring people and ideas together from many disciplines. He also had a tremendous appreciation for nature. After fixing electronics in field equipment of all kinds, he would dash off looking for flowers, especially orchids. One of his greatest qualities was his endless curiosity about everything. His passion for learning about the world drove him to do great things and live life to the fullest. He was a Renaissance Man.

Throughout his life, Ronnie combined his love of engineering and art to design, build and work out solutions. He designed and built their family home and much of the furniture within. He was also a prolific gardener, creating flower and fruit gardens at the University of Minnesota student housing, as well as grafting fruit trees and propagating many plants that he would hand out to friends. He was a handyman for everything and used his incredible skillset to "MacGyver" his way through situations, be it fixing equipment while on the go with his field research, fixing broken appliances at home, or helping his children with projects. Once he even used a power drill and a U-bolt to whip cream in the field. For several years he was the Red-Green Regatta dad for his kids' team.

Ronnie was also a sculptor. Together with Ina, he created multi-media sculptures for the University student housing in St. Paul (MN). For the past 15 years in Alaska, they combined their passions for art and science at the World Ice Art Championships by creating ice sculptures to communicate scientific concepts to the public.

In a last loving note about Ronnie: let it be known that he loved Dutch Gouda cheese. Even though he was far away from his homeland, it would be the only food he would eat every morning on his bread.

There will be a celebration of Ronnie's life on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, from 3-7 p.m. at the Birch Hill Recreation Area Ski Building (ADA compliant).

All are welcome. Please bring your favorite memories, a dish to share and a drink to toast (beer, wine or soda) for a potluck.