Dan Edward Hasenfratz

Class of 1961

Dan Hasenfratz’s favorite subject at Perry High School was math, and he took all the math classes that were offered, which shaped his analytical thinking. Dan worked at the Perry Print shop in high school and began learning about machinery.

After graduation, he went to work for the Perry Daily Journal and oversaw the printing press, ensuring that everything was set up correctly for the daily paper. He understood the mechanics of the press, and the team he worked with never missed printing an edition. In 1963 Dan married
Patsy Whitchurch. They bought a small house on 8th street that did not have a cellar. He decided to dig one out himself. It was hard work and he got cement poisoning, but he was proud of his accomplishment and talked fondly about it years later.

Dan joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 1965 and served for 37 years. He began as a medic but, fascinated with flying, went to flight school and learned to fly helicopters and twin-engine fixed wing airplanes. He retired as a lieutenant colonel.

Dan took his interest in mechanics into the heating and air conditioning business and eventually owned Trackside Refrigeration. Then he began a second career as an EMS pilot and flew medical service flights for 17 years, retiring at age 76.

Dan helped with his daughters’ activities, including softball teams and Blue Birds and Camp Fire. He taught himself the intricacies of woodworking, blacksmithing, beekeeping, and more. He ran his first marathon at the age of 45 and taught himself to play golf in his 50s.

He was active and full of life when he passed away on May 8, 2021. The teachers he encountered over the years prepared him to live the life that made him so happy.