Gary Daum

Gary J. Daum, of Niwot, died September 24, 2012 at Exempla Good Samaritan Medical Center in Lafayette after a 2-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 63. Gary was born June 22nd, 1949 in Huron, South Dakota to Charles Daum and Kathleen McGill Daum. His Family moved to Colorado in the winter of 61-62 and he very much-considered Colorado his home. He married Crystal Baker on July 8th 1972 in Northglenn, Co. His teaching career began in Durango in 1971 where he taught Science and coached wrestling. In the fall of 1974 he accepted his first teaching job in the area at Longmont Junior High then in 1977 he became the Special Education teacher at Niwot High School where he led a distinguished career until he retired in 2004. As patient and kind as any person could be, there are countless numbers of students who believe they would have never finished High School without him. Gary was the head wrestling coach at Niwot from 1977-2005 but he also coached Football and Girls Softball during his career. As a wrestling coach, He was one of the pillars of the local wrestling community. He helped to found the Niwot Youth Wrestling program in 1978 and also founded the Boulder Valley Invitational wrestling tournament. He was a friend and mentor to wrestlers and coaches all over the state. After retiring from teaching Gary went to work for the City of Lafayette where he had worked the 20 previous summers. Gary worked for the City as a Landscape Technician and referred to it as, “another dream job.” Whether teaching, coaching, or working in the parks for the City of Lafayette, Gary absolutely loved to get up and go to work in the morning. Since retiring from coaching, Gary had also fallen back in love with the outdoors, and spent much of his free time hunting pheasants and dove on the plains of eastern Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota behind his beloved pointing lab, Rose. Gary was not a member of a particular church but he had a strong faith in God. His wife Crystal is a member of Hygiene Methodist Church. Surviving Gary are his wife Crystal of Niwot; four children and six grandchildren. Garin and Ashley Daum and their children Remington and Phoenix. Annica and Christian Dino and their son Luca, Lindsay and Jay Sinner and their three kids Meadow, Autumn, and Charles. His son Kendrick and his girlfriend Angie Schafer of Mankato, Minnesota. His brother and his wife James and Cindy Daum of Aurora and his nephews Brandon and Trenton Daum. His in-laws Bob and Corky Baker of Loveland, Roxie and John Stovall of Boulder, Scott and Rhonda Baker of Broomfield, and Mike and Angie Murphy of Windsor. A cremation has been entrusted to Howe Mortuary and Crematory. Memorial services will be held at 10 am Saturday September 29th at Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Niwot (95th and Niwot Rd.). Contributions can be made to the Gary Daum Memorial Fund (contributions will be used for Parks and Open Space, St. Vrain Valley Special Education, and area Youth Wrestling) care of Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman St. Longmont, CO 80501. Please share your thoughts, memories, and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com.