Daniel “Dan” Sholl, an executive in the fresh produce industry and former general manager of California-based Wild About Sprouts, died unexpectedly of natural causes on Jan. 16. Sholl was 44 years old.
He is survived by his wife, Claire, and three children – a son, Philip John, and twin daughters, Sylvi Grace and Cora Josephine; along with his father, Jeff Sholl; his mother, Deb Sholl; and two sisters, Abby and Kristin.
Sholl spent most of his career in fresh produce, starting with sales and marketing for the Green Giant Fresh brand in 2003 in Minnesota. He then moved on to California Sprouts in California in 2010 before becoming general manager of Wild About Sprouts in 2016. Sholl was integral to the development of the first Wild About Sprouts plant utilizing the new patented Cold Grown process.
He touched every aspect of the business including staffing, sales, marketing, food safety, plant operations, inventory, KPI’s and his favorite, networking.
Sholl attended Marquette University in Wisconsin and obtained a degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University in 2003. While at CSU, Sholl joined the Ski Club and grew it from 20 members to more than 300, turning it into the largest club on a campus.
Sholl enjoyed attending industry events and networking with others in the fresh produce industry. His unexpected passing has been devastating to all who knew him. The company knows he will be greatly missed for his gregarious, loving and generous spirit.
Sholl had an uncanny ability to make friends with whomever he met. He delighted in music, sang unabashedly and always had an opinion. He was an outdoor enthusiast who loved to ski and hike in the many state and national parks near his home in Sacramento. He enjoyed sharing his passions with his wife and children, especially his love of the mountains and the outdoors.
A memorial service and reception for family, neighbors, business colleagues and friends will be held at 11 a.m. PST on Feb. 26 at the Chapel at East Lawn Memorial Park, located at 4300 Folsom Blvd., East Sacramento, California. A reception follows at noon at The Greenhouse, located adjacent to the chapel.
The service will be live-streamed at eastlawn.com.
There will also be a Celebration of Life this summer in Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up for Sholl’s children as a 529 college savings plan. If you care to contribute, email Deb Sholl at [email protected] for more information.
