Daniel Canete

Daniel D. “Dan” Canete was born Dec. 3, 1932, in Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines, to Restituto Canete and Ciriaca Denoso Canete. 

He married his wife of nearly 61 years, Evelyn Senit Canete, June 28, 1958. 

Dan grew up during WWII in the jungles of the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. He had just turned 9 years old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941.

A few years later, Dan was an eyewitness to the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, one of the largest naval battles of WWII between the U.S. and Japan. As you might imagine, he had many stories to tell of that time, which were more than enough to keep a young son and daughter awake, hours after normal bedtime.

As a young man, Dan attended and graduated from Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary in Zamboanga, Philippines, and went to work for The Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) in the metro Manila area. FEBC had one goal in mind: broadcasting Christ to the world through radio. While working at FEBC Dan heard a most angelic voice on a sister radio station hosting the classical music hour. The name behind the voice was Evelyn Senit. 

After hearing Evelyn’s soothing voice on the radio Dan just had to meet her. Even though there was no “Facebook” back then, Dan was smitten, sight unseen. After much planning and “strategizing” Dan met Evelyn through a mutual friend. And, as they say, the rest is history.

In 1963, Dan decided to immigrate to the U.S. with wife, Evelyn, and young son, Allen, to pursue additional graduate and post-graduate studies. They landed in Providence, R.I., and Dan attended school at Barrington College in Barrington, R.I.

Dan worked hard, both supporting his family by working evenings and attending classes and studying by day. Daughter Lisa arrived in 1968. Over the years, Dan earned a B.A (Barrington College), an M.A. (Cal State-Fresno), and a Ph.D (Nova University) in psychology. Dan was an instructor and a professor at Barrington College from 1967-78 and a fully tenured professor at the University of Sioux Falls (South Dakota) from 1978-98 before retiring from teaching.

Dr. Dan Canete, or “Doc Dan” had many hobbies and interests, including camping, fishing, gardening and tennis. He and Evelyn loved to watch Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and just about any major tennis tournament on TV. Dan even found time to be the tennis coach at the University of Sioux Falls, in addition to being a professor and the department head of psychology and sociology. 

Dan was talented with his passions. He competed at the senior tennis division level of the Senior Olympics and he had a love of gardening and his green thumb helped to produce bountiful garden vegetables and beautiful flowers. His love of fishing carried over from his childhood of survival from the sea and he loved teaching, and taught piano to children and teenagers.

Dan also was an interim pastor in the Christian & Missionary Alliance (CMA) church, being an accomplished singer, pianist and preacher. Always enthusiastic and optimistic, Dan made friends very easily. His love for the Lord Jesus Christ, and his love of teaching and service, are what characterized him as beloved by both friends and family. While we mourn his departure, we also rejoice that he is with the Lord in heaven and reunited with wife Evelyn, in glory.

Dan died June 17, 2020, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was 87.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, who died March 21, 2019.  

Daniel is survived by a son, Allen (Kimberly) Canete of Custer, S.D.; and daughter, Lisa (Scott) Ferrero, of New York, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Danny (Emily) Canete of Dallas, Texas; Rachel Canete of Minneapolis, Minn., and Nikki (Jesse) Ramer of Mead, Colo.; and four great-grandchildren, Hannah and Benjamin Canete of Dallas and Jacoby and Lincoln Ramer of Mead.

A memorial service was held June 28 at Faith Community Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Daniel Canete, please visit seasidefuneral.com,