~ IN MEMORY ~
DL pilot Brian Richard Daems
August 6, 1967 ~ December 6, 2024
“Brian Richard Daems, 57, passed away unexpectedly
on Friday, December 6, 2024, in the skies over Vero Beach, Florida. His uncle,
friend, and mentor Randy Opat was the first responder on the scene, kissed him
goodbye, and prayed for his soul along with other pilots who witnessed the
accident.”
Brian joined Delta Air Lines 04-16-2001. Brian is
survived by his wife Lisa and by their three children. He also leaves to mourn his parents and
siblings.
For those who may wish to send condolences, I see the
family’s address listed in whitepages as
206 Lucas Lane, Nazareth PA 18064.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to assist the
family….please see details below.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
PCN memorial site
Online obituary sites:
https://www.whitepinefunerals.com/obituaries/brian-daems
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/brian-daems-obituary?id=56975976
Brian Daems Obituary
White Pine
Funeral Services - Logan
Brian Richard Daems, 57, passed away unexpectedly
on Friday, December 6, 2024, in the skies over Vero Beach, Florida. His uncle,
friend, and mentor Randy Opat was the first responder on the scene, kissed him
goodbye, and prayed for his soul along with other pilots who witnessed the
accident.
Brian was born on August 6, 1967, in Provo, Utah,
to Richard and Linon Daems. He grew up in a fun and lively family of five
siblings. He and his dad and brothers, Kurt, Jeff, Randy, and Eric, enjoyed
many outdoor adventures together – river rafting trips, skiing in the beautiful
mountains of Utah, camping as Scouts, mountain biking, and hiking. His mom
diligently and patiently taught Brian how to oil paint, cook, organize, and be
a gentleman. He attended Davis High school where he was active in Scouting and
the Order of the Arrow. Through scouting, faith, and his family, Brian
cultivated life-long character traits such as hard work, dedication, service,
and loyalty. In high school, he achieved his Eagle Scout award and served as
the OA Lodge Chief.
After graduation, he attended Ricks College for
one year before serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in the Washington D.C. – South mission. Upon returning home,
he attended Utah State University and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s
degree in Flight Technology. His love of flying developed early in life when he
watched the airplanes take off from Chicago O’hare airport while visiting his
Grandma and Grandpa Opat. In college, he began his formal pilot training earning
his needed ratings and certifications to launch his flying career.
He met his wife, Lisa, in the fall of 1992 at Utah
State University from which they both graduated. They were married in the Logan
Utah Temple on March 12, 1994. They were blessed with their first daughter,
Lindsey Emma, in 1999 while living in San Luis Obispo, California, where Brian
flew for Skywest Airlines. The family enjoyed spending time at the beach, at
local parks, and enjoying the coastline. In 2001, they moved to Lewisville,
Texas, where Brian flew for Delta Airlines. After 9-11, he began his career in
corporate aviation. They were blessed with their second daughter, Abigail
Marie, in 2003. Texas was a wonderful home for the family where they had many
close friends and treasured memories.
Brian began his career with Leucadia Aviation in
2005 and the family moved to Layton, Utah. He loved being closer to extended
family and the outdoor opportunities Utah provided, particularly hiking their
local Adam’s Canyon, skiing at nearby resorts, and going on river rafting trips
with his brothers. In 2007, they were blessed with their son, Matthew Brian,
who nicely balanced out his princess sisters with his romping and wrestling.
The Daems have called Pennsylvania home since 2013.
Brian flew for Leucadia Aviation for almost 20
years, with half of that time as Chief Pilot. He loved flying around the world
with those in his beloved flight department. Always the adventurer, Brian was
never one to sit in his hotel room on a trip. He gathered together anyone
willing to come with him and set out to explore the mountains, oceans, deserts,
and historical sites of the world. He has flown to all six inhabited
continents, 48 states, 40+ countries, and has clocked over 13,300 hours in the
air. He has earned ATP – AMEL, GV, G1159, EMB-120, Flight Engineer – Turbojet,
ASEL, ASES, CFI, seaplane, and glider ratings and certificates. His most
enjoyable recent rating was in glider planes as he loved the peaceful quiet of
the skies and the challenge of finding the thermals. He received his Silver
Soaring badge and was working toward his Gold.
When he wasn’t flying, spending time with his
family, high adventuring, reading, and serving others occupied his time. He
loved taking people for rides in his single-engine Maule airplane and the
glider. He enjoyed mountain biking at Jacobsburg, Nockamixon, and Trexler with
friends and neighbors. Hitting the local, national, and international ski
slopes with Matthew and friends was his wintertime joy. And reading historical
and classic books was his favorite pastime in his quest to be a life-long
learner and always expand his mind. He and Lisa enjoyed celebrating 30 years of
marriage with a trip to Venice and the Dolomites this past August—a trip that
will now be even more cherished and remembered.
Brian’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ fueled his
charity and service for others. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints and served and loved those around him in various
ways at the ward and stake levels. His unassuming, quiet ministering touched
the lives of so many. Truly he emulated the Savior as he visited the elderly,
hiked and camped with the youth, ministered to the sick, hugged a sad child
(and gave them a piece of candy), counseled with those who were grieving, and
left in his wake so many small acts of kindness that are impossible to count.
Brian had four great loves in his life—faith,
family, flying, and friends. Though the enormous impact of his unexpected
passing has been felt so deeply and painfully, he died doing what he absolutely
loved to do. Soar high, beloved, soar high.
Brian is survived by his wife, Lisa; their three
children and one son-in-law: Lindsey (Daniel) Reid of Ithaca, NY; Abigial Daems
of Laie, HI; and Matthew Daems; his parents, Rich and Linon Daems of Kaysville,
UT; his four brothers: Kurt Daems of North Salt Lake City, UT; Jeff (Heather)
Daems of Santaquin, UT; Randy (Ardene) Daems of Saratoga Springs, UT; Eric
“Rico” (Whitney) Daems of South Ogden, UT; and his uncle, Randall Opat of Port
St. Lucie, FL.
Lisa and the children would like to publicly thank
the extended family, church members, Nazareth community, and friends near and
far for the countless prayers, well-wishes, flowers, meals, condolences, and
kind acts that have flooded them since the moment of Brian’s passing. They
express regret to have not been able to personally respond yet to all of these
kindnesses, but please know they have been seen and greatly appreciated.
Nazareth Pennsylvania Memorial Services:
Saturday, December 14th
Visitation: 10:00 - 11:45 am
Memorial Service: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
A light luncheon will be served after the memorial
service for family and any close friends.
All proceedings will take place at: The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 138 Rose Inn Ave, Nazareth, PA 18064
A virtual broadcast of Brian's Memorial Service in
Pennsylvania can be viewed at: (Link to come)
Note there will not be a casket or interment at
the Nazareth memorial.
Logan Utah Memorial Services:
Saturday, December 21st
Visitation: 11:30-12:30 pm
Memorial Service: 1:00 - 2:00 pm
All proceedings will take place at: White Pine
Funeral Home, 753 South 100 East, Logan, UT 84321
A virtual broadcast of Brian's Memorial Service in
Utah can be viewed via Zoom at: CLICK HERE TO WATCH SERVICE VIA ZOOM
Graveside dedication immediately following the
memorial service at the Logan City Cemetery.
Condolences and Contributions
We invite you to post photos and memories of Brian
on:
https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/Ns2LYvLL
Flowers and condolences for the Nazareth, PA,
memorial can be sent to the Daems residence at 206 Lucas Lane, Nazareth, PA
18064.
Flowers and condolences for the Logan, UT,
memorial can be sent to the family through the White Pine Funeral Home.
Charitable Contributions to the Family can be made
through GoFundMe:
Donate to Support Brian Daems' Family in Their
Time of Loss, organized by Pam Apollo
Charitable contributions can also be made on
Brian’s behalf to the Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, a park where
he loved to ride, walk, and hike with his family and friends.
Make checks payable to: PPFF – Jacobsburg
(Pennsylvania Parks/Forest Foundation)
Please notate contributions on the check in memory
of “the unofficial trail maintenance man.”
Mail donations to:
Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center
400 Belfast Rd, Nazareth, PA 18064
………………………………………………………………
Identity released of 57-year-old man who died in
glider plane crash Friday afternoon
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The man who died in glider
plane crash in Indian River County Friday has been identified as Brian Richard
Daems, 57, according to a recently-released report from the Indian River County
Sheriff's Office.
Daems, of the 200 block of Lucas Lane in Nazareth,
Pa., was piloting a glider plane Friday afternoon when it crashed into a median
on State Road 60 west of Interstate 95. The Federal Aviation Administration and
the National Transportation Safety Board responded to the scene and are
actively investigating the incident, according to sheriff's officials………………………………