Dan Michael Gates

Augusta GA - Dan Michael Gates, 52, loving husband of Jennifer Allain Gates, entered into rest on Thursday, April 18, 2024

Dan was born in Cherokee, Iowa in 1971. He had a very adventurous childhood and, upon graduating high school, attended the University of Iowa. This is where he met the love of his life, Jennifer Allain Gates.

Once married, Dan and Jennifer opted to move towards warmer weather. They landed in Augusta, GA, which has a thriving medical community and was a great kickstart to Dan’s career in healthcare. Driven by a calling to help others, Dan became an EMT and later, a paramedic for Gold Cross EMS. It was there he met Bo Pounds, his mentor and close friend. Dan went on to become president and CEO of AirMed and Coastal Air, both of which built strong hospital and EMS system relationships throughout Georgia and South Caro­lina and was a recognized lead­er in the care of burn patients through­out the region. 

With the sale of those companies in 2012 (and after a brief career detour to fulfill his dream of being a bartender), Dan went on to become a program director for Georgia DPH and Director of EMS Operations for Grady Health System. Most recently, he focused on EMS consulting in the Southeast. He was well respected in the healthcare community and thought of every co-worker and employee he encountered during his career as family and treated them as such. He was always kind and encouraging and loved sharing his knowledge and expertise with those around him. His love of and passion for EMS live on through the programs he assisted and the people he encountered.

In addition to his career, Dan’s wife and children were his whole world. Dan was incredibly involved in his children’s lives, never missing an event, sports game or movie night. He took great pride in raising his children into the people they are today and was blessed to call them and Jennifer his family. He also had a great love for Iowa sports, namely football and wrestling, which he enjoyed watching with his family and friends. He enjoyed traveling up to Canada with family and friends for the annual fishing trip each June where quality time was spent, many fish were caught and just a little Canadian whiskey was drank. 

While he always loved to travel and did so often with family throughout his life, Dan and Jennifer have spent a great deal of time traveling in recent years. Selling their house and everything in it just a couple years ago, they set out on an all-summer RV cross country adventure of a lifetime. Dan then made arrangements to travel around Europe and to the Maldives for Jennifer’s 50th birthday and most recently went on a month-long tour around Asia for his last hurrah.

Dan will be missed by his wife of 30 years, Jennifer Allain Gates; children, Megan Gates Reynolds (Matthew), Christopher Michael Gates; parents Jerry and Vicki Menke; brothers John Gates (Maura), Jarod Menke (Cindy); parents-in-law Raymond and Joyce Allain; brothers-in-law Randy Allain, Jeff Allain (Laura) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

We invite you all to share pictures or memories. It was his wish that we laugh, reminisce, and smile together during this time.