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Dr. Dan Nguyen M.D.

1943 - 2023

Dr. Dan Nguyen M.D. obituary, 1943-2023, Phoenix, NE

BORN

1943

DIED

2023

FUNERAL HOME

Best Funeral Services Phoenix

501 East Dunlap Avenue

Phoenix, Arizona

Dan Nguyen Obituary

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Dr. Dan Nguyen, M.D. Dr. Dan was born in 1943 in Vietnam. When he was just two days old the Japanese bombed the strategic port near his hometown. His family fled to a village in the central part of North Vietnam where they sought safety and refuge. This would not be the only time Dan and his family would find themselves in the crosshairs of historic events in their home country. Nonetheless, their family endured and found ways to create normalcy. Dan's first decade of childhood would be filled with going to school, swimming in a nearby pond and learning to speak French. After WWII and the defeat of Japan, there was another war between the French and communist guerillas in North Vietnam. Upon France's defeat and the encroachment of the Viet Cong, Dan, at age eleven, and his family moved to South Vietnam and settled in Saigon. In Saigon, Dan's interest in science and tenacity for learning would spur his pursuit of medicine. He earned placement at the University of Saigon Medical School through a rigorous testing process during which only one out of a thousand applicants were accepted. He completed medical school with a specialty in Internal Medicine in 1973 and was drafted into the South Vietnamese Army shortly thereafter. He served in Pleiku, an essential hospital unit and airbase that included both US and South Vietnamese personnel. On April 29, 1975, the day before the fall of Saigon, Dan and his brother Phong would board a PT boat in the Saigon River and make their way to a United States Aircraft Carrier. They were welcomed aboard and would be taken to a refugee camp in Malaysia. Eventually, they were sent to Guam. Here Dan showed his abilities as a physician by volunteering to help the 423rd Medical Company clinic at Tent City, Guam, while participating in Operation New Life. Dan made his way to the United States through a refugee camp in Pennsylvania. From there Dan and his brother were sponsored by a Lutheran Church in Iowa. In Iowa, Dan worked as an aide in a nursing home. During the mid-1970s, Nebraska's smaller communities were looking to recruit medical personnel and did so through programs that sponsored doctors from Vietnam entering the U.S. after the war. Dan heard about one of these programs and made his way to Omaha's University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) to start the next phase of his career. Once Dan passed all of his credentialing exams he moved from Omaha to Bridgeport in 1977 to work as a physician. A nurse that worked with Dr. Dan introduced him to her friend Marie, who was the Director of the Cosmetology Program for WNCC in Sydney. After a blind date and a year of courtship, Dan and Marie were married in 1979 and shortly thereafter purchased a practice and moved to Sutherland. They started a family while living there for five years. In 1984, Marie heard that Dr. Nakamura from North Platte was selling his practice and she contacted a friend to arrange a showing. Dr. Dan purchased the practice and moved his family to North Platte while maintaining offices in both Sutherland and North Platte. A point of pride during this period was when Dan became a naturalized US Citizen. Both of his children witnessed this meaningful event. Dr. Dan was an avid hobbyist and, outside of his practice and family, dedicated his time to many interests over the span of his life including fishing, reading, cooking, hunting, building remote-controlled planes, and eventually taking to the skies in the real deal, solo flying in a single-engine Cessna. His love for flying started young but came to fruition through the building of radio-controlled model planes and eventually, with the help of Trego Aviation, led to his first solo flight in 1993. Dan was a lifelong learner who had a passion for reading and brewing the perfect cup of coffee. He was a compassionate, caring physician who left big shoes to fill when forced to retire after a bout with cancer. After a brutal protocol, by God's grace, medical technology and Dan's desire to survive, he beat cancer. Beating cancer meant he was able to spend lots of quality time walking 3-5 miles almost every day, sitting on the patio with a cup of coffee enjoying his natural surroundings, especially bird watching, and getting to spoil both of his grandsons who he is survived by. He is also survived by his wife, two daughters, two brothers, many nieces and nephews, in-laws, and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, beloved sister, and nephew. We recognize that this is more verbose than Dr. Dan would have ever been, those of you who knew him know what we mean, but we felt his life and legacy warranted it. In lieu of a memorial or donation, if inclined and weather permits, enjoy a walk in the early evening, but before the news, as Dr. Dan would have.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by North Platte Telegraph on Apr. 25, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Dan Nguyen

Sponsored by Best Funeral Services Phoenix North Central Chapel.

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Kari Richards

April 26, 2023

Our sympathy is with Marie, her two lovely daughters and their families. May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief. God´s Blessings, Pat and Kari Richards

Shari Shire

April 26, 2023

Marie and family, thoughts and prayers coming your way! What a great man!

Denise Skiles

April 25, 2023

God´s rest Dr. Dan for a life well lived..

Debbie A Radcliffe

April 25, 2023

My sympathy to all his family.

Connie Jean Jurgens

April 25, 2023

Marie,
Dan was such a wonderful man sending all my love hugs and prayers to you and your family.

Love always Connie Jurgens

Deb Mc neel

April 25, 2023

Prayers to all, sweetest couple to run into from the Hiatt Mc Neel families

Karla (Nussbaum) Eddie

April 25, 2023

I remember when Dan and his brother came to Bridgeport, my mom was on the Hospital Board and had them come to supper a few times. I was a senior in High School and he was very interested in where I was going and what I was planning on doing. My sympathies to his family.

Jake McFadden

April 25, 2023

When I was meat cutter at Kealy in Sutherland I sliced my finger on the slicer. I immediately went to the clinic and Dr. Dan rushed me in and sewed it back on and it healed almost perfectly. I told him not only are you a good doctor but you would make a pretty good seamstress to. Our prayers and condolences are with you and your family, Marie

Brenda Rosencrants Robertd

April 25, 2023

Prayers for Marie and the rest of his family

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