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DAN CALHOON
Dan Calhoon, 61, of Brodhead, passed away on Nov. 17, 2022, at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital surrounded by his family.
He was born in Portage, Wis., to Merlin and Elaine (Frank) Calhoon on Oct. 23, 1961.
He was the first of four children. He grew up in Milton and graduated from Milton High School.
He then attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in 1985.
At Whitewater, he met his wife Suzanne (Meyer), a fellow music major. They were married on July 30, 1983.
They raised their three children in the communities of Shullsburg, Cuba City, and Brodhead.
He was passionate about music education and choral music.
His first teaching position was kindergarten through 12th grade Vocal Music Director for Shullsburg Public Schools.
He built their choral program and started a swing choir, annual madrigal dinner, and senior citizen luncheon. He also directed many high school and middle school musical productions in Shullsburg.
In 1990, he began his 20-year career as the Choral Director at Brodhead High School and Middle School.
He was known for his musical productions. Among his favorites were Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Oklahoma, Grease, and Les Misérables.
He also started a holiday madrigal dinner at Brodhead High School, and asenior citizen holiday luncheon at Brodhead Middle School.
But his true passion was Show Choir. He created the Brodhead High School “Guys & Dolls” Show Choir, which competed throughout the Midwest in the 1990s and 2000s.
Show Choir became so popular in Brodhead that he started a second high school show choir, “Boys & Girls,” and the middle school’s “Choral Cardinals.”
He established and ran the “In the Spotlight” Show Choir competition, which brought many musical groups from across the Midwest to Brodhead every February.
He also loved taking his groups on competitive trips to Chicago, Florida, and Branson, Mo., as well as chaperoning students at Show Choir Camps of America at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., and Shell Lake Arts Center in Shell Lake, Wis.
He always strived for student success and excellence. He was so honored to be able to teach his three children and have them be part of his musical groups and performances. After retiring from teaching in 2011, he served the Brodhead community on the Brodhead School Board and was active in the Brodhead Optimists Club.
He is survived by his wife Suzanne and their three children, Erika (Don) Lyons of Albuquerque, N.M.; Zach (Sara Moy) Calhoon of Austin, Texas; and Erin Calhoon of Monroe, Wis.
He is also survived by his parents, Cal and Elaine Calhoon, of Milton; his sister, Carri (Mark) Weigman, of DePere; brothers Rick (Jill) Calhoon, of Freedom; and Rob (Tracie) Calhoon, of Milton.
Additionally, he is survived by several nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Stephanie; and God-daughter, Hannah; and, his joy, grandsons Donovan and Elliott.
He is preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, and he shared a very special relationship with both of his grandmothers.
Memorials are yet to be determined but will reflect his passion for choral music education (at Brodhead High School and Middle School), as well as the family’s gratitude to the nurses at the SSM Health Monroe Hospital and the Monroe Clinic in Brodhead.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Brodhead at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28.
Visitation will be held at the DL Newcomer Funeral Home in Brodhead from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27, also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass on Monday, Nov. 28.
