Dan Noller, at the age of 80, passed away August 18th in Denver, CO. Dan was born on May 14th, 1935, in a farmhouse close to Sigourney, IA. Dan is survived by his former wife, Marsha (Smedema) Noller, 3 children: Danita (Matt) Rocha, Wendy (Bill) Owen and Kristi Noller, 6 grandchildren: Tyler & Sean Owen, Danya, Audrey & Jamie Herrell, Josh Rocha, 1 great grandchild, Gracyn Owen. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers and a sister.
Dan went to work for the City of La Junta as Superintendent of Utilities in 1967, and became Assistant Director of the Urban Renewal program in 1970. In 1982 he was chosen to be Assistant City Manager. Then in 1987 he was selected by the City Council to be the City Manager and served in this position until his retirement in 1999. He also served as the Executive Director of the Urban Renewal Authority during this same period of time.
Dan was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Consistory, the Al Kaly Shriners and the Oriental Band. He was a past President of the La Junta Lions Club, the Arkansas Valley Shrine Club, the Oriental Band and the Otero Museum Foundation.
Besides his family, Dan’s other great loves were sailing his sailboat and riding his motorcycle. Dan served in the United States Army from 1954-1956. This was during the Korean War era and most of this time was served on the Island of Okinawa. Upon release from the Army, he began farming the family farms in Iowa. In 1964 he purchased the Mid Town Motel in La Junta which he owned for 7 years.
