Dan was born in Salem, to parents Henry and Evelyn Zurfluh. He was the fourth of six children. The family lived in the Jordan area, of Scio, Ore.

Dan grew up “on the mountain”, roaming, hunting, jeeping and working. He and his siblings farmed with their dad and always had summer jobs with other local farmers.

Dan went to the first three years of school at Scio grade school and then transferred to Lourdes Grade School in Jordan for 4th through 8th grade. He graduated in 1980 from Regis High School, where he had an amazing group of close, lifelong friends.

During the summers and then after graduating high school, he ranched for Ken and Ann Bentz, of Drewsey. During the time working on the Bentz ranch with his brother Tony, Dan and Tony decided that ranching was what they really wanted to do with their lives.

In pursuit of his dream of ranching, Dan started logging to save up for their dream ranch. He started working for Lulay Logging in Scio.

In 1983, at the age of 21, Dan was seriously hurt while logging. He spent a year in the hospital, fighting for his life. He beat all odds and medical predictions and was able to come home with a smile on his face and a positive attitude. He spent the rest of his years in a wheel chair and dealing with his head injury and other complications.

In 1986, along with his brother, Tony and his family and Dan’s parents (Hank and Evelyn) they embarked on their dream of being ranchers. They purchased a ranch in Crane, Oregon and started the 7Z Land & Cattle Company. Dan lived for the next 35 years in Crane. For the first 20 years, Dan was able to be an active part in the ranching by driving the feed truck during the winters and the swather during the haying season. Through the years, Dan had two very special dogs that stayed by his side at all times. His beloved Bubba, a huge yellow Labrador, would guard Dan’s chair whenever he went in the feed truck or on the swather, not allowing anyone near it. Later, he had Kizzy, who was less of a guard dog and more of a friend. Dan loved his dogs.

As Dan aged, life was harder. His body became tired and worn out. Everything got more difficult and more doctor appointments were needed. Through it all, Dan never complained. He always had a smile on his face, shaking everyone’s hand and saying hello. We will never forget that beautiful smile or his cheerful, pleasant attitude.

Dan was a lifetime member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a devout member of the Catholic Church.

Dan is survived by his mother, Evelyn; brothers, Tony (Donna) of Eagle, Idaho, Larry of Kalispell, Mont.; sister, Angela (Todd) of Nampa, Idaho; eight nieces and nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Dan was preceded in death by both maternal and paternal grandparents, his father, Henry Zurfluh; his sister, Linda; and his brother, Thomas.

Recitation of the rosary is planned for 7 p.m., on Thursday, May 23, at St Thomas Aquinas Church in Crane.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m., on Friday, May 24, at St Thomas Aquinas Church in Crane.

Burial will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 25, at Our Lady of Lourdes cemetery, Scio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Thomas Catholic Mission or The Sisters of St. Mary (SSMO) in care of Lafollette’s Chapel Burns.