Truman D. "Dan" Hayes

Truman Daniel "Dan" Hayes, 92, of Westby and formerly of La Crosse died Thursday January 13, 2011 at his home. He was born in Racine on November 23, 1918 to Truman Elliot and Etta (Spencer) Hayes.

Dan loved sports of all kinds and was particularly fond of golf which he played well into his later years. During his high school and early college years he ran the mile and 2 mile races. Dan married Ruth McReynolds on December 7, 1941. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1947 where he set the physical fitness record for the 2nd Air Force.

Dan's love of music set him on his career as a composer and teacher. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma in piano and composition. In 1950-51 he earned a master's degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester N.Y. studying composition with the American composer Bernard Rogers. Later he earned his doctorate at the University of Illinois again in composition. He was active in the Congregational Church choir and the La Crosse Choral Union.

Dan taught both composition and theory at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse from 1962 until his retirement in 1988. He had many local performances at both the UW-La Crosse and Viterbo University by the La Crosse Symphony and Choral Union. Chamber music and songs were performed at summer festivals and by drama departments.

He is survived by his wife Ruth; a daughter Dorothy Martirano of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois; two sons Edward N. Hayes (Marie Gelinas) of Toronto, Ontario and Joseph S. Hayes (Cynthia Hoff) of Westby; grandchildren Alexander Martirano , Megan Adamiak, John Martirano, Joshua, Jennifer, Daniel, William, Alana and Samuel Hayes; great grandchildren Josef and Alexander Adamiak, Spencer and Miles Hayes and Isabella Dorothy Martirano; two brothers Robert Hayes (Joyce Priester) of Golden, Colorado and Larry Hayes (Maggie Parker) of Oklahoma City and a sister Mary Helen Albrecht of Wilson N.C.

He was preceded in death by two sons Daniel A. at age 7 and Robert A. at age 40 and also by two brothers and two sisters.

He is loved and will be missed by many.

Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday January 20, 2011 at the First Congregational Church UCC in La Crosse with Rev. Bill Hoglund officiating. Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 6 p.m. until service time. The Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley is assisting the family.