Daniel Pagaran Sr.
Obituary
On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, Daniel Pagaran, Sr., loving father of three children, passed away at the age of 81 in Hollister, California.
Born in Guadalupe, California on January 13, 1940, he was the second child of Arcadio and Felisa Pagaran. He graduated from San Benito High School and was a long time proud native of San Juan Bautista, California.
Daniel's hobbies in his early days were playing piano, tuba, bass, fishing, softball pitching, and welding. He was a long time fan of the 49ers, San Francisco Giants, and boxing; going to the casino, and he loved to play poker with his Veteran friends. His personality was genuine with a dry sense of humor and a distinctive laugh, and loved making jokes.
Furthermore, he loved collecting collectable items, family photos, and his '65 Chevy truck. He enjoyed oldies music; he loved his cats and enjoyed eating seafood when he could; and most especially, he loved reminiscing about the past and talked about his experiences during the Vietnam War.
Daniel was a hardworking man until he retired in 2006 from Chemical Lime Natividad Plant in Salinas. He was an operator/machinist/laborer.
He will finally be reunited with his loving son, Danny Boy Pagaran, Jr; and the mother of his children, Maria Pacantara; parents Arcadio and Felisa Pagaran; brothers Arcadio II, and Raymond Pagaran Sr; his cousin Vicente "Bobo" and Auntie Lolita Pinuela.
He is survived by his two children: Mark Thomas and Kimi Pagaran. He also has two loving grandchildren: Aiden and Kailani; and daughter-in-law Raquel; brother Fred and Jill Pagaran; aunt Rosie Andrino and Pillar Pagaran; cousins Tim and Terry Balambao, Ronnie Andrino, Linda Poferal; nephews and nieces: Arlene, Arcadio III, Chase, Chelsea and Zack Currier, Marissa, Raymond Jr., Carla, Victoria, Noah, Samantha, Alan and Jeremy Pagaran.
Daniel Pagaran Sr. was a Veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a naval seaman in Vietnam from 1964 to 1965, aboard the radar escort ship USS Vance DE387, part of the naval surveillance. He helped the 1st Marine Calvary destroy a Viet Cong machine gun bunker, which was filled with high explosives.
He was awarded the Vietnam medal, 2 Combat Stars medal, and a National Defense medal. He was also a proud lifetime member of the VFW (Veteran of Foreign Wars) of San Juan Bautista, California.
Published in Hollister Free Lance · February 10, 2021