Dan Ludemann
May 19, 1953 ~ April 14, 2015
Dan passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at Sanford Health in Fargo, surrounded by his close family, at the age of 61.
Daniel Joe Ludemann was born on May 19, 1953 in Barnesville, MN, the son of Joe and Marna (Barry) Ludemann. He grew up in this area and graduated from Barnesville High School. He continued his education at Moorhead Technical College where he studied Fashion Merchandising. Dan began his career as a chef at Galaxy Supper Club in Barnesville while still in high school. He later worked for JC Penny in Jamestown, ND and Rapid City, SD. He also co-owned “Just Pants” in Rapid City, SD. Dan was well known in the Fargo/Moorhead area for working at Dayton’s, The Doublewood, the Northwood Chalet, the Tree Top, the V.I.P. Room, and Monte’s where he greeted and served many guests with exceptional service. In later years he owned and operated Estate Sales by Dan.
Throughout the years Dan spent many hours volunteering at area organizations including the Dakota Boys Ranch, the YMCA and Heirlooms. His passions in life included purchasing and selling antiques, baking, dancing, and entertaining his family and many dear friends.
Dan is survived by his loving partner of 36 years, Curt Rustand; his brothers, Fred Ludemann of Wichita, KS; and Phil (Nancy) Ludemann of Spring Park, MN; and his sister, Linda (Kurt) Bailey of Baton Rouge, LA. Also surviving are his very special two nephews and two nieces; and nine great nephews and nieces.
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Curt:
Our hearts ache for you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and also with Dan’s Family. Dan will forever be remembered for his caring and generosity extended to everyone he knew.
Dave and Jody
Dan, thank you for being such a good friend – such a good person. You will be sorely missed. I hold you in my heart and in my prayers.
I am so surprised and shocked to hear of this. I was reading the newspaper and saw that Dan has passed. I am so sad Curt as I know that you must be in so much pain because of this. I do not know what happened but I hope that God surrounds you with his peace at this time.
Prayers for God’s Grace for Dan’s family as they mourn his passing and celebrate his life.
Curt our thoughts and prayers are with you and Dans family.
We think of Dan every time we have a piece of carrot cake. He made the best!
Curt, I sort of know of your pain. My heart goes out to you. Dan will be missed by many because of his kind spirit. I am out of town this week, but will come and see you next week. Take a deep breath and hang on to your friends.
Curt, I am so sorry for your loss. Dan will be missed by many but the loss you must shoulder is the greatest. I was hoping to get to either the prayer service or the memorial service but I will not be home to do so. I send you love and hugs and hope to see you soon.
Sharon Spencer
I have had the pleasure of working with Dan for the past 5 yrs. at Heirlooms in Fargo. What a gem! He was very knowledgeable when it came to antiques and their history. His sense of humor was always right around the corner and a wonderful baker on top of it all! You will be missed my friend. Sympathies to Curt and Dan’s entire family.
So sorry to hear about this! My prayers & thoughts go out to Curt & Family! !
DAN was always the best at perfection in any of the jobs over the years. He was kind man and left us
way too early. My thoughts and prayers to family and friends. God Bless You Dan the good man!
Dear Curt, Linda, Phil and Fred,
I have had the pleasure of knowing Dan for 34 years and worked with him for 24 years (Dayton’s/Estate Sales by Dan)
Dan would call me and say “are you ready to go play”, that would be his way of saying we have an estate sale to start working on. We worked hard, but the most important aspect of working with each other is that we had to make it fun and laugh. (We were a success in that part).
I will cherish my many memories I have had with Dan and will miss my buddy dearly. And yes Dan, I am ready to play!
“So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good” ~Helen Keller
Curt- we were shocked and saddened to read of Dan’s death. Remember his key lime pie and how gracious he was when we visited your home. You are in our thoughts.
Prayers and condolences to Dan’s family. To Linda & Kurt & Josh sending hugs from Barnesville.
There are many moments that I can look back on with you Dano that I can remember thinking “Wow, this is an incredible man,” but I think the one that always sticks out in my mind is walking into to your 60th birthday party and seeing the HUGE number of people whose lives you affected. A whole slew of folks who got to see the bright light that you were. Thank you for all of the dancing, thank you for all of the laughter, thank you for the sass and teaching me so much in my first few formative years in Fargo. You will be carried in SO many hearts, I can be only grateful that I get to carry a piece of you with me.
We are alll so sad for the the loss of a such a nice man.. Dan will be missed by so many of us who he gave his presents to & kind a ways… Fargo will be missing a wonderful kind soul that gave so many a smile..
Ben Z
Curt, I am so sorry, my heart aches for you. Dan was a wonderful person.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan’s family. He was such an awesome guy-hardworking and always so
nice! We will miss his mild manner, his smile and his willingness to help everyone!
We are especially thinking of Curt at this time. Know Curt that you will be reunited some day-God is good!
Love and Prayers, Erv and Linda
My Deepest Sympathy goes out to Dan’s Family. I have Precious Memories of Dan from the Galaxy and High School…♡. Thinking of all of you during this sad time… Rest in Peace Danny…
We send our thoughts and prayers to Dan’s family. We knew him
over the years, while he was at Monte’s; we knew him as a very talented, kind and soft-spoken gentleman. He will be sorely missed by his many
friends and acquaintances.
Sending my heartfelt sympathies to you, Curt.
God Bless you Curt…. Dan will still be your strength from heaven. I was honored to have worked with Dan in the last 17 years. He had a huge impact on my life and I will miss him dearly.
Love always.. Jen
I am very sorry for your loss. Although I did not know your loved one personally, I hope knowing that they are in our loving heavenly Father’s memory will bring your family comfort during this difficult time. Very soon now we can look forward to God’s promise at a Revelation 21:4: “… Death will be no more, neither will mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be anymore, the former thing have passed away.”
Dan you will always hold a special place in my heart. We were together for six years every Monday at Heirlooms I was always tapping into your vast knowledge of antiques and merchandise, you gave it so willingly. I will miss our story sharing and general fun we used to have..Mondays will never be the same dear friend.
Curt-I was so sorry to hear of Dan’s passing. I offer my deepest sympathies and my most heartfelt thoughts during this very difficult time. Please take care.
Our prayers are with you.
I am very sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers go out to Dan’s family. Curt, I am very sorry for your personal loss, may you find comfort and peace in all the wonderful memories you have of Dan and your 36 years together. I had the pleasure of working with Dan at Daytons. May he rest in peace.
Esther Geller
We are so sorry to hear of Dan’s passing. He was so fun to work with years ago at Dayton’s! He could always make you laugh, and had such a caring personality. It was always wonderful to see him downtown at Monte’s. Our hearts are heavy, thoughts and prayers to Curt and his family.
Dan (Dano) was one of a kind and I was so fortunate to know him and call him my friend. I worked with Dan at Daytons for many years. I looked forward to the nights that I worked with Dan as I knew it would be a night. He was always so busy and had numerous jobs and ventures at all times. What I always was in awe of was, that no matter how much he had going on, Dan did everything to perfection and beyond. He was so extremely talented. I often sought him out for advice as he was someone I always knew I could trust and depend on. Even though I have moved from the area, Dano, like many of my former Dayton cohorts, had a bond that time doesn’t touch. I am so sorry Curt for your loss, I cannot imagine it. My deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.
We love you Curt. Our hearts go out to you as we know that you and Dan were truly one. So many good times to reminisce, thinking of the two of you has always made us smile. We are coming to Fargo next month and hope to find you and hug it out. Love always,
Joe & Kelly
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Curt in this difficult time. Dan was a one of a kind and a very special person and will be missed.
Curt. It was such a privilege to have known Dan. He was so generous with his knowledge and advice. I am so sorry you and his family have lost this wonderful person.
Curt;
It was such a shock to hear of Dan’s diagnosis and passing. I am at a loss of words, and I don’t know what to say to you to help you feel better. Please accept my condolences anyway. I’ll be sending good thoughts your way.
Curt
I was so sorry to learn of Dan’s passing. Unfortunately we are in Florida and won’t be able to attend any of the services, but please know that my thoughts are with you.
What a loss for our community. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Heaven is getting a wonderful angel!!! Feel very sad to see this in the paper today.
So sad to read this in the paper today. He will be greatly missed. Heaven is getting a wonderful angel!you are in my thoughts and prayers. Very sad day!
Curt, we are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you.
My husband Ron and I met Dan through our times at Montes with Dan and Shannon Hedrick. Very enjoyable man to be with- so sorry. Prayers are with you and the family.
I was fortunate to have known Dan for over 10 years. I consider myself to be a better person for having the privelage of knowing and working him and Curt. Not only was he one of the most considerate and compassionate people I have ever known, he was also a true class act and a great friend. The world is diminished by his passing, you will be more than missed. Miss you and I will see you on the other side. Our deepest regrets go out to Curt and his family.
We will always remember you “Dan-o”!
-Jeremy and Amanda
Curt: We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Curt,
My heart is breaking for you right now. I have many memories of you and Dan giving Duane and I some basic lessons in “antiqueing” – and how kind and generous you were to me when he died. It will already be 7 years this next week. I’m so sorry I was unable to attend either service but I have been unwell for a few weeks now and couldn’t attend. Your heart will have a hole in it forever, but I pray that God will give you peace and lead you through the next chapter of your journey. Love and prayers to you. LeAnn (Pearson) Wages
Curt,
I’m so very sorry for your loss.
There will be a hug waiting for you the next time I see you.
MaryAnn
Curt-really sad for your (and our) loss. You and Dan have been two of the most wonderful people in our community. I hope you felt the love at today’s jam-packed service.
Love and prayers from the Laws.
B
Dear Curt,
So sorry to hear of your loss. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
This is sad news for Fargo, and for Dan’s loved ones. I only knew Dan briefly through his estate sales and from Montes. I always thought of him as an elegant fellow. My mom, Chris Knox, knew him, too. We both send warm thoughts to you, especially to Mr. Rustand. If Dan loved you, you must be a great guy, too! Von and Chris
Curt – I was so sad to read of Dan’s passing. You are in my thoughts.
Curt, and family of Dan- Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. We have so many memories of you and Dan in the antique business, the good old days. May you find comfort in your memories and wishing you peace and strength for the days ahead. With deepest sympathy, Mary and Dean
Dan was a very special person. I worked with him at Dayton’s . A very knowledgeable, helpful, and talented individual. My prayers and thoughts are with his family. The picture of the 3 guys leaning against the red converitble,,,,,,,,,,,,,the car was mine. I loved it.
Curt, I was shocked to hear of your precious loss. Our hearts go out to you as well as our prayers. Contact Gary and I when you can. Ron Monson