Latest News & Content
Dana
Dana developed this site. We will miss him.
Obituary Dana John Hallfors, age 72, of Asheville, North Carolina, died December 6, 2019 at his home. Dana was born October 11, 1947. He grew up with his parents, the late Tyko and Beatrice Hallfors, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He played trumpet in high school in the Fitchburg Red Raiders marching band, and played in the 1962 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Dana served as a veteran in the US Coast Guard between 1966 and 1970, and continued to be very active in New York and North Carolina-based veterans’ organizations. He set up and ran the websites nyvietnamvets.org and FinnsSite.org as well as other communications and Vietnam veteran locators. Dana was an avid ham radio operator. He will be greatly missed by his ham radio buddies, who recognize him by the call sign W4CGC, a nod to his days in the coast guard. Dana loved the Boston Red Sox. For many years, he volunteered as a firefighter with the Youngsville Fire Department. Before retiring, he worked as an HVAC technician. Dana was especially proud of his Finnish heritage, which gave him his nickname, “Finn.” He loved the food and the memories of his grandparents, especially his grandfather, who was the editor of the Fitchburg Finnish newspaper, the Raivaaja. His grandparents spoke little English, so Dana picked up bits of Finnish from them that he enjoyed slipping into conversation. In addition to his parents, Dana was preceded in death by his brother, Lauri Hallfors. Dana is survived by Gayle Retty Hallfors of Jeffersonville, New York; his children, Kristen Hallfors (Shane Kehrley) of Youngsville, NY and Nicole Hallfors of Bethel, NY; his siblings, Nancy Hallfors Buttermore (Richard) of Attleboro, MA, Richard Jennings (Roberta) of Asheville, NC, and sister-in-law Jane Hallfors of Hingham, MA; seven grandchildren; eight nieces and nephews; good friends and neighbors Joe Lewis, Jerry Wilcox, David Hart and many others in his adopted home of Asheville; and his beloved pets, a dog, Beauty, and a cat, Princess. Service details will be announced at a later date! In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome any donations made in Dana's name to the Asheville VA or to Care Partners Hospice (68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803). To send flowers to Dana's family, please visit our floral section. Services