JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 20, 2018 — Daniel Musselman, associate professor of music at 51社区, died Monday night at the age of 38 after a year-and-a-half battle with cancer.
鈥淥ur faith in Christ gives us assurance that Dan is more alive now than he has ever been,鈥� said 51社区 President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver. 鈥淗e is with Christ in heaven, free of cancer, totally healed.
鈥淓ven as we grieve the loss of Dan Musselman 鈥� a dedicated husband and father, a gifted musician, an incredible teacher and leader, and a joyful follower of Jesus 鈥� we thank God for the gift of Dan鈥檚 life and his influence on all of us.鈥�
Musselman joined the faculty at Union in 2010 and served as acting chair of Union鈥檚 music department from 2016 to 2018. He was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer in May of 2017 and continued to teach throughout various treatments. He was placed on hospice care in his home earlier this month.
John Kinchen, chair of Union鈥檚 Department of Music, joined the faculty earlier this year. He said in the short time that he got to know Musselman, he was blessed by his selflessness, his enthusiasm about life and above all, his devotion to his savior.
鈥淒r. Musselman was the finest of musicians, deeply committed to Jesus Christ and providing a consistent, godly example as he walked his faith each day,鈥� Kinchen said. 鈥淗e was highly respected as a composer and pianist, but as a person, he was very humble and unassuming.鈥�
Kinchen said Musselman鈥檚 dedication to his work was beyond admirable.
鈥淗e fought through his illness to be in the classroom so that he could provide students with teaching that would help prepare them, not just as musicians, but for life,鈥� he said.
An accomplished composer, Musselman鈥檚 works include pieces for choral and instrumental ensembles and soloists as well as a chamber opera. He held a bachelor鈥檚 degree in piano performance from Bob Jones University, a master鈥檚 degree in composition from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, and a doctorate in composition from the University of Kansas.
Musselman is survived by his wife, Malinda Musselman, and their three young children.
Todd Brady, Union鈥檚 vice president for university ministries, joined with Musselman and others at a service at First Baptist Church in Jackson on a recent Wednesday night and sang the hymn 鈥淲hen We All Get to Heaven.鈥� He said they sang with tears as they considered the pain of this life and the promise of heaven.
鈥淲e continue to grieve as we sing through tears today,鈥� Brady said. 鈥淥ur hearts are saddened beyond description. In the midst of our deep grief, we know that the Lord through his work on the cross has given us the hopeful certainty of heaven. Dr. Musselman now knows in full what we know only in part.鈥�
Visitation for Musselman will be at First Baptist Church in Jackson from 4-6 p.m. Nov. 25 and 2-4 p.m. Nov. 26, followed by a celebration of life service at 4 p.m.
Friends of the Musselmans have set up a fund for the family at Foundation Bank in Jackson. Checks should be made payable to Musselman Family Fund and can be dropped off at Foundation Bank or the Office of University Ministries on Union鈥檚 campus.