Daniel Thomas Emmerton died early Sunday morning in Valparaiso, Indiana at the age of 98. He was born in Colfax, Wisconsin where he spent the early part of his life playing and working on the farms of his parents, George and Mabel Emmerton and the farms of his grandparents, Daniel and Hannah Baldwin of Colfax and Thomas and Sara Emmerton of Cooks Valley. He attended Colfax schools and graduated from Colfax High School.

Dan had innumerable stories about his early days playing in and about the waters of the Red Cedar River which runs through Colfax in front of his childhood home and along his Grandfather Baldwin's farm. He loved anything to do with fishing, swimming or boating and enjoyed many fishing trips around northern Wisconsin and Canada. Dan was also a voracious reader of biographies and American history, reading his way though several libraries in his later years.

In 1944, he married Mary Ellen Morris also of Colfax and they farmed there until the Colfax tornado destroyed their farm in 1958.That same year the couple purchased a farm on Truax Prairie near Eau Claire, where they farmed until they retired in 1973. Mary and Dan spent the next 26 winters in Mesa, Arizona. During those retirement years, they made jewelry and pottery. Dan built a potter's wheel in the basement of his Eau Claire home so he could practice during the summers as well. Doing crafts, playing cards and exploring Arizona with their friends, many from the Colfax area, occupied those winters. They also traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada. They were members of Truax United Church of Christ for over 50 years.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Mary Ellen Morris Emmerton; his parents, George and Mabel Emmerton; his brother, William Emmerton and his wife Ardis ; his sister Edna Emmerton Morris and her husband William; and in-laws Clyde and Elizabeth Jones Morris.

He is survived by daughters Elaine Hunt of Hobart, Indiana; Marsha Emmerton of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Granddaughter Rachael Kissling of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Nephews, Richard Emmerton of Madison and William Emmerton of Oneida; Grandniece, Kristen Haag; and grandnephew Aaron Emmerton.

The funeral is planned for Thursday, January 6th at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., at Truax United Church of Christ. Internment will be at a later date at Hillgrove Cemetery in Colfax, Wisconsin.