Daniel James Obenchain

Daniel James Obenchain passed away peacefully from this life on January 14, 2017 surrounded by his loved ones. He was 90 years of age. Dan was born to Artie and Violet Obenchain on April 10, 1926 in Rockford, Ill. He was the 4th of nine children born to that marriage. The family moved west to Ketchum, Idaho in 1931 where his father had grown up. Dan attended his first years of school in Ketchum & Halley. The family then moved to Boise where he attended the remaining years of grade school and graduated from Boise High School in 1944. Since WWII was in full swing at that time, he joined the Navy immediately upon graduation. After some specialized schooling he was assigned to the Navel Amphibious Forces in the Pacific theatre. He took part in the invasions of Iwo Jima & Okinawa. His ship, as well as others, was in training to invade the Japanese mainland when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thus ending the war. Upon release from the Navy, he attended Boise Jr. College in 1946 & 1947 He married Shirley Orchard in 1948 and they had 4 children. Kathleen Ann Fobes (Hal - Littleton, CO); Thomas R. Obenchain (Boise); Tim Obenchain (Shawna - Kimberly), Terry Obenchain (Jessica — Hansen). Shirley preceded him in death in 1970. Mary Ann Mattan and Dan were married in 1966 in Elko, Nevada. That marriage was later blessed in the Catholic Church in 1996. In addition to his wife and 4 children, he is survived by four sisters, three brothers, 14 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. Dan spent his entire professional life in the insurance industry. After attending Boise Jr. College, he was employed by the Idaho Surveying and Rating Bureau in Boise. In 1952 he accepted a position as sales representative for the Springfield Fire & Marine Ins. Co. He served in that capacity in Salt Lake City, Boise and San Jose, Ca. In 1959 he was appointed regional sales manager with headquarters in San Francisco. He assumed underwriting and sales responsibilities over Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii and half of the state of California and Idaho. He purchased a small insurance agency in Twin Falls in 1963 which was the fore runner of the current Hub International Twin Falls office. He served his industry in many different positions of responsibilities. Past President of the Twin Falls Insurance Agents Association, Past President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Idaho, State National Director for Idaho with the Independent Insurance Agents of America. He was recognized as Idaho's Agent of the Year in 1968. Cecil D. Andrus & the Idaho Agents Association commended and thanked him for his service as a member & chairman of the State Insurance committee from 1971 through 1976. Outside activities included Past President of T. F. Rotary Club #379; Past President of the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce; Past President of the Twin Falls Toastmasters Club. He served on numerous boards including the Blue Lakes Country Club of which he was a member for over 40 years. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Twin Falls Rotary Foundation, PO Box 821, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301.