Daniel Lee Pokora made his entrance into the world, two months premature, on October 19, 1942, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Dan was a curious, delightful, young soul who became the darling of the nursing staff at the hospital for the two months he spent getting ready to join his family.

The son of Albert and Bernice Pokora, Dan joyfully, and sometimes mischievously, engaged with life.  He attended Sacred Heart School, Catholic Central High School, and Grand Rapids Junior College.  He became fascinated with the world of science and earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master's Degree in plant ecology from Western Michigan University, and thirty additional graduate hours through National Science Foundation grants at Kansas State Teachers College and Louisiana State University.

Dan met his wife, Marie, at a high-school party when he spontaneously joined her Marilyn Monroe imitation.  At the age of 16 they had met their match, and in 1966 they began their 58-year marriage.  A devoted husband, he often painted or wrote "I love you, Marie" on surprising objects around the home.

Dan was a loving father to Valerie and Rachel.  He enthusiastically attended his daughters' games, plays, concerts, and dancing recitals.  He taught his girls many life lessons, and he inspired a true love of learning.  Perhaps most notably, his humor and playfulness helped them see the joy in each moment.

His grandchildren loved it when their Papa would babysit.  He was a big kid himself, so the boys often felt like they had another buddy with them. He taught them the wonder of the world by playing on the floor with them, building spider webs out of yarn, and exploring our beautiful world with countless excursions into nature.

Dan used his science training and his humor and showmanship to inspire young minds teaching biology, limnology, and photography at Kenowa Hills High School.  His love for the outdoors and his adventurous spirit prompted him to organize a water monitoring team and backpacking and camping excursions.  Dan's gift for photography led his class to win a Cameras in the Curriculum national award in 1983.

For over forty years on Friday nights during football season, you could find Dan enthusiastically filming Kenowa Hills football games.  He loved being addressed as "coach" by the sports personnel in the press box, and he savored a Friday night football hotdog.  Dan could tell you the stadium with the best sweet relish.

Always open to new learning opportunities, after his retirement from Kenowa Hills, Dan worked part time in the Engineering Department at Grand Valley State University coordinating workshops for professional engineers.

Throughout his life, Dan had a deep love of the outdoors and especially of Lake Michigan.  He cherished his time working at Boy Scout camp.  He enjoyed fishing for perch at Lake Michigan, walking in the woods, and identifying plants, trees, and flowers.  He loved to start the day with a walk in nature with his buddy Lloyd, and coffee with his friends at Biggby.

Dan was a deeply spiritual man who lived his faith.   A 60-year parishioner of St. Jude Catholic Church, Dan served as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, member and Chair of the Stewardship Committee and member and Co-Chair of the Bereavement Committee.  Dan saw the best in each person and refused to share a negative word about anyone. His deep integrity meant you could trust him implicitly.

Dan accepted everything that came his way with grace.  He found joy in every day and counted each moment as a blessing. He could often be found gazing out a window at the beauty of nature with deep appreciation and musing aloud:  "It doesn't get better than this."

Dan also found joy in scratching lottery tickets.  He loved the process, even when he didn't win. Dan was also a longtime Michigan State sports fan, and he loved the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions, combining these two interests by organizing an extended-family sports pool for big games.

Dan often commented to his family that at the end of his life he would like to wander into the woods and sit under a tree…  Dan found his tree.

Daniel is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Bernice (Suchowolec) Pokora and his brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Diane (Van Shoten) Pokora.  He is survived by his wife, Marie Helena (Gedris) Pokora and their daughters, Valerie (Jim) McCloskey and Rachel (Kevin Bower) Pokora and two grandsons, Colin McCloskey and Dylan McCloskey.  His beautiful light shines on in every heart he touched.

Friends and relatives may meet the family for a visitation on Sunday, April 6, from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at Beuschel Funeral Home, 5018 Alpine Ave NW, Comstock Park, MI. A rosary will be prayed starting at 8:00 pm.  Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 7, 11:00 am at St. Jude Catholic Church with Rev. Ayub Nasar celebrant. A visitation will take place at church one hour prior to mass from 10:00 - 11:00 am. Interment SS Peter & Paul Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

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Alliance for the Great Lakes
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