Daniel Kallus

Daniel J. Kallus was the consummate educator. Even after being recruited to continue his military career as an officer and receiving an acceptance to the University of Texas Law School, he chose to teach. His entire teaching career was in Midland Independent School District. He did supplemental and special projects teaching at many major universities, helped Boy Scouts earn their chemistry badges and taught junior high catechism at St. Ann’s Catholic Church.Dan was born in LaGrange, Texas on August 3, 1932 to Rita Parma Kallus and Frank T. Kallus and died on August 24, 2018 in the presences of his family and loved ones after a brief battle with cancer.He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and then graduated from LaGrange High School. Stories from the family claim he read all the books in the LaGrange City Library, none of which were ever denied. Dan began his college career at Texas A&M College just after his 17th birthday, living at “The Annex” in Bryan with the Class of ’53. He graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science, completed officers training and served for two years in the United States Army. He returned to Texas A&M as a graduate assistant and earned a Master of Science degree. After graduation, Dan was accepted to UT Law School and also received a contract to teach science in Midland, Texas. A real job and pay check drew him to Midland, where he spent the next 38 years in the classroom.During his teaching career, 34 at Midland Senior High School, he was named the outstanding chemistry teacher for the Southwest Region of the American Chemical Society in 1976, received the Texas Excellence Award for Outstanding High School Teaching given by the University of Texas Ex-Students Association and the College of Education in 1988, and was recognized with an Outstanding Service Award from the South Plains Section (Lubbock) of the American Chemical Society. He received several National Science Foundation Grants and studied at American University in Washington, DC and the University of Oklahoma where he finished all the classwork in a doctoral program. In addition, Dan was chosen as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in Chemistry at Princeton University in 1985. He also served for a time as the editor of a feature column in The Journal of Chemical Education. He was well known in the field of teaching high school chemistry having presented at state, national and international conferences.While at Midland Senior High School, he sponsored a number of clubs and organizations, including the National Honor Society for 17 years, the Junior Engineering Technology Club, and the Chemistry Demonstration Club. He was given honorary membership in the Texas Parent-Teacher Association and the Midland High School National Honor Society.In the community, Dan attended St. Ann’s Church since arriving in Midland in 1956. Dan was a member of the Breakfast Optimist Club and more recently of the Midland Rotary Club and the Midland Association of Retired School Personnel.Former students have successfully gone forward to direct work at NASA, develop cutting edge technology in Silicon Valley, been masters of their work in medicine in our community and throughout the world, traveled the world to assist in natural disaster environmental projects, as well as become authors, engineers, educators, ministers, and others that found their niche to make a difference in the world in their chosen trades and professions. In addition, Dan has mentored teachers that have received recognition for their excellence in teaching, one of which was recognized with the highest award for a teacher of chemistry in the United States.Dan married Martha White on June 1, 1963 in Big Spring, Texas. They met in the Midland Senior High School cafeteria at the opening faculty meeting for the 1961 school year. As colleagues they developed a close friendship. The friendship and love lasted 55 years, having celebrated that milestone earlier this year.Dan and Martha had two daughters, Elizabeth Kallus of Arlington, TX and Mary Kallus of Portales, NM.Dan is survived by his wife and daughters, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Binie and Edna White, his nieces Jennifer Bubany (Charles), Angela Kallus, and Denise Goodwyn (Craig), and nephews Richard Kallus (Pamela), David Kallus, Andrew Kallus (Linda), and Brad White (Gigi), as well as numerous great nieces and nephews.Dan was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Rita Kallus, his brother Malcolm Kallus and sister-in-law Gertrude Kallus, brother Frank “Buddy” Kallus and sister-in-law Mary Joyce Kallus.The family would like to express their gratitude for the support of their many friends throughout the community especially Dr. Greg Bartha, Hospice of Midland and Dan’s caregivers from Nurses Unlimited.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made the St. Ann’s Youth Activity Center Campaign, 1906 West Texas Avenue, Midland, TX 79701.The family will receive friends at 5:30pm Thursday, August 30, 2018 at The Branch at NPW at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home in Midland. A Remembrance Service will be at 6:30pm with a Rosary to be recited immediately following at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Chapel in Midland. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00AM on Friday, August 31, 2018 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Midland. Graveside will be held on Friday, August 31, 2018 at 3:00PM at Trinity Memorial Park in Big Spring, TX.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.np.welch.com.,