Daniel Winston Nyquist, 88, of Howard Lake and Buffalo, MN, died on March 17, 2025, holding the hands of his loving wife, Jane Nyquist.
Dan was born on October 9, 1936, to Rudolf H. Nyquist and Ruth V. (Lindstrom) Nyquist, in Howard Lake (Cokato Township), on the same farmstead in which he worked his entire fruitful career as a farmer.
Dan began his education in a one-room country schoolhouse and graduated from Cokato High School in 1954. Drafted into the army, he rose to the position of Military Police, moving from a smoke-filled army barracks to his own room as the assistant to the chaplain and chauffeur to a general and foreign dignitary. After his army discharge, he married Helen L. Kirkpatrick, whom he met at a church skating party, on September 4, 1959. Together they had four children: Mark Allen, Caroline Ruth (who died in infancy), David Eric, and Naomi Ruth.
Besides farming, Dan found many joys and passions from helping those in need and giving encouragement to growing pumpkins, grapes, and large gardens. He especially loved planting trees. Some of the white pine he planted are now 90 feet tall.
An astute intellectual, Dan loved books, especially on the topics of history, economics, philosophy, and theology. He would engage anyone in lengthy conversations who might stop by the farm. He loved to salvage old things to remake them into something beautiful. He was a woodworker, runner, singer, and a connoisseur of classical music. Above all, Dan was a Godly man. He would self-deprecatingly say, “The Lord preserveth the simple.” We know that he has gone home and heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
After Helen died in 2018, Dan met Jane Johnson at a church grief group. They married in a “surprise” ceremony after a Sunday morning service at Albion Evangelical Free Church in Cokato on December 12, 2021. They enjoyed the most wonderful three years of marriage getting dirty, gardening, foraging, maple syruping, and simply having fun together.
Survivors include his wife, Jane, his children, Mark, David (and Mariana), and Naomi (and Patrick); his adoring grandchildren, Corrie, Christina, Clarissa, Estera, Oliver, Aunne, Ezra, and Eleanor; siblings, Dwight Nyquist (Marie) and Peggy Lundeen; and many relatives, friends, neighbors, and pastors. The family is especially grateful for the Allina Hospice team.
Services will be Friday, March 21, 2025 at Albion Evangelical Free Church (11480 5th Street NW, Cokato, MN) Visitation at noon; Service at 1:00, followed by a light lunch.
Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota. #320-286-2534 www.swansonpeterson.com