Winner of 5th national apprentice competition dead at 45

Heart condition claims Local 7’s Daniel Tenhagen

DANIEL J. TENHAGEN, 45, winner of the 1992 Boilermaker National Apprentice Award, died in his sleep Dec. 8. He was a member of Local 7 (Buffalo, N.Y.).

Daniel Tenhagen

BM-ST Joe Brown said the cause of death was a genetic heart condition and that Tenhagen had been unaware of the ailment. “He appeared to be in great shape,” said Brown, “always working out at the gym — even after completing 12-hour shifts for International Chimney Corp.

“It came as a complete surprise,” Brown added. “The whole membership is in shock. He was just an exceptional Boilermaker, a stand-up guy, and a man’s man who was respected by the people he worked with and for.”

Tenhagen is survived by his wife, Kristen (Ferro) Tenhagen; sons Daniel and Ezekiel; parents, John and Joan (Halicki) Tenhagen; brothers Michael (Sally) and Steven; and extended family members, in-laws, and friends. His brother John “Jack” Tenhagen preceded him in death.