Daniel Franklin Travis II, of Clarkston, passed away on Aug. 17, 2023 at the age of 82.
He was born on March 11, 1941 in Alton, Ill., to Elith and Daniel Franklin Travis.
Father of Daniel Franklin Travis III of Los Angeles, Calif., and Amy Elizabeth (Mark) Crabtree of Prosper, Tex., and their mother, Elizabeth Travis, grandfather of Phoebe Elizabeth Crabtree and Miles Connor Crabtree of Prosper, Tex. Brother of Katharine Diane Kennedy of Alton, Ill., uncle of Mark (Teresa), Scott, and Kyle (Dawn), great-uncle of Sydney and Sawyer. Brother-in-law of Michael (Nancy) Holland of Carmel, Ind., and their children Stacia (Michael) Pratt and Erik (Faye) Holland. Brother-in-law of Mark (Betsy) Olson of Roswell, Ga., and their children Jenna Olson and Erik (Kelly) Olson.
Dan’s life was characterized by community involvement, environmental activism and a profound love of nature.
He served for 25 years on the Independence Township Board having first run for the office of trustee in 1980. He felt compelled to run to ensure that projects such as a gravel pit and high-rise hotel would not come to fruition in Independence Township. He was a member of the Oakland County Parks Foundation for a number of years while also serving as president of Independence Parks and Recreation, a group formed to support the growing number of parks and recreational activities in the township. Additionally, he served on the board of the North Oakland Land Conservancy.
A sports enthusiast, Dan was a life member of the Oakland County Sportsman’s Club. He won a great number of trophies and awards as an avid skeet shooter. Racquet sports were another passion. He played tennis at every opportunity. Eventually, paddle tennis became his sport of choice.
Daniel graduated from Westminster College in Fulton Mo., receiving his diploma in hand from Harry S. Truman. Dan worked as a steel salesman for Laclede Steel Company of Alton, Ill., for 20 years and later for the French Steel Company of Creusot Loire, later, Asfor Steel Company.
When he left the steel industry and international travel, he was employed by Bass Pro Shop. It was a work endeavor he found thoroughly enjoyable from greeting old friends and many dogs at the door, to teaching hunter safety classes to young potential hunters, assuring their safety among the woods and in the fields. When recent years of ill health left him unable to work and pursue his sports, birds became his joy. He loved feeding them and identifying each new song or sighting.
He will be sorely missed.
There will be a private memorial later.
Arrangements entrusted to Lewis E. Wint & Son Funeral Home, Clarkston.
In Dan’s memory, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy, PO Box 285, Clarkston, MI 48347.
Online guestbook wintfuneralhome.com.