George Albert Daum, Jr., age 81, passed away on December 23, 2023. He was born October 30, 1942 in Dayton, OH and raised by George Sr. and Ellen Daum in a loving family with four sisters, Dorothy, Betty, Mary, and Shirley and two brothers, Bob and John, who have preceded him in death.
Even as a child, he wanted to reach out and help others. When he was 9, he asked his parents to find a way for him to learn American Sign Language so he could communicate with an elderly neighbor who was deaf. He learned sign language so well that served as an ASL interpreter at church services in Dayton later in life.
George joined the Navy at the age of 17 and served his country with distinction for over 4 years of active duty and 20 years of reserve duty. His deployments included Europe, the Mediterranean, the eastern seaboard of South America, and Cuba during the 1962 missile crisis. He was a commissioner and plankowner of the USS Charles F. Adams, DDG-2, one of the first guided missile destroyers. At the time of commissioning in 1960, he was a BMSN, Boatswain’s Mate Seaman rank E3. He eventually rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, rank E7. His duties included the deck division, which put him in charge of all of the line handling, care above decks, and all maintenance of the exterior of the ship. The deck division is one of the most rugged and challenging divisions in the US Navy.
After his honorable discharge, he worked for the Kettering, OH Police Department where he began as a Dispatcher, then served in Patrol, Lab, and rose to the role of Detective. Never idle, he attended the University of Dayton at night and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. After retiring from Kettering, he worked for the Harris County Sheriff's Department until 2006.
George loved the outdoors and adventure. In retirement, he purchased an RV and set out to travel to all 50 states with his wife Carolyn (Lehmann) Daum. At the age of 60, they spent 3 days backpacking down from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River and back, a trip challenging to all hikers due to thousands of feet of vertical gain. They spent a spectacularly fun summer as volunteer guest hosts at the Branson KOA, which included free admission to all the Branson shows. Together they visited many of the 50 states, but when they arrived in Alaska 2010, George found a paradise on earth in the Kenai Peninsula, and his wanderings were done. He lived in Soldotna, Alaska for 13 years, exploring, volunteering, and making many friends.
George enjoyed a long, active life filled with faith, service, and hard work. Even in later years as he began to have dementia, he worked as an Alaska State Park Guest Host at the Pillars boat launch on the Kenai River. Every summer he and his wife would move into the one room cabin with no electricity at the state park and greet anglers from all over the world who came to fish the legendary Kenai River. They were fortunate to meet many locals there as well, who, along with the other Park Rangers, have remained their faithful friends. George drew great joy from the fellowship he found at the Kenai Bible Church, where he made many deep friendships in Christ.
George passed peacefully from complications of dementia with his wife Carolyn at his side. Despite his declining health, he was able to live independently in his final years on the edge of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in an off-the-grid cabin he discovered for sale on an index card tacked to a bulletin board at the local grocery store. In his rustic dream home, he was blessed with views of nature, wildlife, and mountains while hosting cherished visits from friends and his Bible study group. In late November 2023, he traveled to the lower 48 to attend his beloved sister Shirley’s funeral, where he suffered a health crisis and had surgery and care from the dedicated staff of the Ascension Providence Hospital in Novi, MI. After recovering, he was not well enough for the long journey back to Alaska, so he moved into the Maristhill Nursing Home in Waltham, MA, where extended family could offer constant support to him and his wife Carolyn. The family is deeply grateful to the dedicated staff at Maristhill for the compassionate care he received during his brief stay there.
Family and friends visitation will be held on Monday, January 1, from 2-8 pm at the home of Carolyn and George’s family in Waltham, MA. The address is 32 Pleasant Street, Waltham, MA 02452.
The funeral service will be at First Lutheran Church at 6 Eddy Street in Waltham, MA on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 10 am.
A memorial service will be held at the Kenai Bible Church in Kenai, AK in June of 2024. Please contact the church in April for more details and to confirm the date.
George’s remains will be lovingly laid to rest in the beautiful waters of Katchemak Bay near Homer, AK, one of his favorite places.
Memorial donations can be made to the Kenai Bible Church in Kenai, AK, George’s beloved home church, the Arctic Barnabas Ministries in Kenai, and the Missionary Aviation Repair Center in Soldotna, AK. Both non-profits are dedicated to bringing missionaries and aid to the most remote corners of Alaska.