George Daniel Book, known to family and friends as Dan, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the age of 77. He was born in Seattle, Washington, to Eleanor Barbara Richards.

Dan lived a life filled with memorable encounters, unexpected adventures, and a passion for serving his country!

From being a chef in the kitchen to a BBQ master outdoors, a #1 NHRA drag racing fan, a sports enthusiast cheering for the LA Dodgers or being a 12th Man for the Seattle Seahawks, an animal enthusiast, or simply reaching out to help someone in need, Dan leaves behind a collection of stories, traditions, and memories that reflect his many interests and unmistakable personality.

Dan graduated from Sierra High School in 1967 and married the girl next door, Kathleen “Kathy” Munoz, on June 22, 1968. They were married for 58 years.

Fresh out of high school and newly married, Dan was drafted into the Vietnam War and served in the United States Army as a military policeman in Germany. The newlyweds spent their first two years of marriage there while Dan served and protected his country. During his time in Germany, Dan was assigned a classified mission guarding a specific tower. His time overseas gave him stories to tell and created enduring connections to Germany that would lead to some unexpected friendships later in life.

After returning home from serving his country, Dan and Kathy relocated back to California to be near family and friends. Shortly afterward, they welcomed a baby girl into the world. Dan worked in the grocery business at Alpha Beta in California before relocating to Cedar City, Utah, many years later. He then worked for Lin’s Grocery Store as a produce manager for approximately 35 years.

During those years, Dan encountered people from all walks of life. One day, while working in the produce department, he met two young men from Germany who were traveling the world. Dan naturally struck up a conversation about Germany and his own experiences serving there. Before long, he invited the two young men to his home, where he shared his passion for food and his memories of Germany. He even offered them a place to stay to help them save money. An ordinary day in the produce department had turned into an international dinner party, and Dan had made two new acquaintances with whom he could share stories.

For all who knew Dan, they knew his passion was sharing his prized racing-room memorabilia with anyone who would give him the opportunity. One time, Dan attended an NHRA drag racing event in Las Vegas and came across two young men from Australia who were experiencing their first NHRA drag racing event. Dan could not pass up the opportunity to share his racing stories and memorabilia. He invited them to visit his home, where he gave them the VIP treatment, feeding them until they couldn’t move anymore and sharing the hat pins he had been collecting for years. He gave both of them a memento of a sport he loved and left them with a lasting impression of his enthusiasm. He was always happy to teach anyone willing to listen his favorite expression: “O TOO COOL!!! TOP FUEL!!!”

Throughout his 35 years working at Lin’s, Dan also encountered a lot of four-legged, furry friends who were lost or abandoned strays. He brought home seven or more dogs that he couldn’t bear to see suffering, running between cars in the parking lot while waiting for something tragic to happen. Dan loved animals of all kinds. From bringing home old produce to feed the deer in the backyard to caring for squirrels, skunks, chipmunks, foxes, and even a peacock named “Otis,” his love for animals knew no bounds. His daughter always told everyone that he had been given the nickname “Snow White,” but in a male version. He would whistle, and they would come running! Even the bees received his kindness, with orange slices nailed to trees around his property because he cared about them, too. His passion for animals never stopped throughout his life. To Dan, they were just as important as humans.

Anyone who knew Dan can attest to his sense of humor and the silly ideas he would conjure up at a moment’s notice.

Every November 11, Dan celebrated those who served in the military with what he called his “Trick or Treat Day!” Dan was incredibly proud of his military service and got his daughter involved in bedazzling a veteran’s hat he had made from scratch by combining three different hats. He proudly wore his one-of-a-kind creation to fast-food restaurants offering free meals to veterans, where he would strike up conversations with other veterans he encountered. He loved dressing up and showing off his unique hat!

When Dan wasn’t working or following the races, he enjoyed spending time outdoors, particularly tending to his lawn and watering his flowers. He loved being outside, listening to music ranging from old rock to old country. He spent much of his time trying to make everything beautiful, just as he envisioned it. The man had the best farmer’s tan and flip-flop tan on his feet! You could never pull him away from the fresh air and the great outdoors.

Last but not least, Dan enjoyed gathering with friends and family who would stop by for a good ol’ game of pinochle. He had a habit of coming up with nicknames for his brothers-in-law or adding his own brand of humor to their gatherings. One of his favorite antics was making a sign that read “Camp Joy.” Everyone who was anyone had to take a picture holding this one-of-a-kind sign, which he made from butcher-block paper from the meat department.

Dan took great pride in collecting as many pictures as possible of family and friends holding his “Camp Joy” sign. He was a true jokester who knew how to make people smile and create memories that would last a lifetime. Dan is survived by his wife, Kathy; his daughter, Tina, and son-in-law, Elvin; his grandson, Logan Yazzie; and his oldest brother, Donald Gene “Don” Book. He was preceded in death by his mother, Eleanor, and his sister, Barbara.

A graveside service and military honors will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah 84770.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St. George American Legion, or the St. George Animal Shelter