DRYER, DANIEL “DAN” - Daniel “Dan” Arthur Dryer, husband of 63 years to Barbara Dryer, passed away on August 29th, at the Rocmaura Nursing Home. He was born in Sparrowbush, New York on July 7, 1930. Early on, Dan’s family moved to Brooklyn, where he spent his childhood. He was the son of the late Thomas and Elsie Dryer. He had six siblings: Phil (deceased), Muriel, Helen (deceased), Al (deceased), Walt, and Judy (deceased). Dan met Barbara Dahlbom at Providence Bible College and they married on June 23, 1951. After completion of his studies at Gordon Theological Seminary in 1957, they moved with their two children to New Brunswick, to lead a church in Temperance Vale. They then moved with their expanding family to Newfoundland in 1961, to a church in Placentia Bay. In 1967, with five children in tow, they returned to serve churches in New Brunswick, most notably Germain Street United Baptist Church. While a pastor, Dan earned a Doctorate in Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. Later Dan and Barb served for twelve years at Walmer Road Baptist in Toronto. Upon retirement in 1996, they returned to their beloved home in Gondola Point. Dan and Barb spent most of their summers with family and friends at their “camp” on the shores of the Washademoak Lake. Dan had a fervent faith in his Lord Jesus and worked tirelessly to share the unconditional love of Christ with everyone he met. He was the “salt of the earth” and his faith was lived out in tangible ways. Dan had experienced God’s grace and he, in turn, offered God’s love to the people around him. He had the gift of encouragement and lifting people up. He was a brilliant man, ahead of his time in urban ministry. He often pioneered his way into uncharted territory and did not mind rocking the boat if the boat needed rocking. His profound faith permeated every pore of his being, so much so that even with dementia, he continued to bless the staff at Rocmaura with words of praise, encouragement and prayer. In one of his last moments of clarity before his passing Dan said, “I am blessed.” Dan himself was a blessing to countless people and he will be deeply missed. There was nothing more important to Dan than family and he revelled in the times when the "Dryer clan" were all together. That being said, his, and Barb's, "family" included many more who weren't officially Dryers. Dan was predeceased by his wife Barbara and great granddaughter, baby Riley. He is survived by his children: Steve (Diane Ring), Jim (Linda More), Wayne (Kathy Jamieson), Karen (John Knight), Cindy (Paul Mosey); and grandchildren: Amy (Aaron Jenson), Kristina (Nick Oriold), Bradley (Robin Haines), Bruce, Jodi (Dan Buss), Ben (Rosalinda Kan), Jonathan, Kya and Kirsten; and great-grandchildren: Olivia and Violet.
The service of celebration for Dan’s life will be on Saturday, October 11, 2014. Details will follow on the Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, website when available. Remembrances can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, Rocmaura Nursing Home or Sharing Way (Canadian Baptist Ministries).