Married 27 years on November 30th. Together 29 years. Miss him so much. There are not words to desribe that vast emptiness in our lives without him here. I know he is with us in spirit because he sends signs but it isn't the same. So grateful he was my husband and soulmate. Love you Daniel Powell.
THIS IS SO POWERFUL AND WELL SAID DANI.-LOVE YOU
I was driving home thinking of Daniel Powell and this song came on the radio ♥️
Thoughts on Grandpa
Missing you everyday Daddy! Love you always.
Sara had this done.
5 years ago (the photo). Daddy I miss you but it's so crazy I feel you with me. I know your walking with me through everything. I keep seeing a ton of butterflies everywhere I go and they fly super close to me. I feel like it is you. Cause I remember all of the times you reminded me of when you were no longer here that you would always be with me. It doesnt take my pain away from losing my best friend but it brings me comfort knowing you are keeping your word as you always did. I love you forever and always.
Love,
Your monkey
Artist - Celeste Roberge
I wish I could be here with all of you as you gather together to say goodbye. One thing I do know is through the conversations I had with him, part of him is going to stick around and hover by his family...all that good energy he created isn't going to disappear.
I have many memories of my uncle Danny and they have played in my mind for the past few weeks like this old reel tape movie. Mostly I heard his incredulous laugh every time any of us got easily offended or angered at something that in the scope of things, really wasn't that important....and really put you in check, and it took so much steam out of it. He was REALLY good at that.
I grew up the 1st 10 or so years of my life with nothing but my mom, my aunt, 2 uncles, and grandparents as my whole world. I often look back at that and examine traits we all had and how I come from a family with some very different personality traits. My mom was very kind, my grandmother very smart, grandfather... kind of mushy and could tear up watching a commercial. I wondered where I got the side of me that I am most proud of. The part where I want to be the protector of every animal, be the mediator of every argument, and can easily forgive and over look things with the people I care about (although that part, I have yet to perfect). Because those really weren't my mom's top traits. I got them from my childhood hero, my Uncle Danny. I will always have a part of him with me. In the way I deal with things, the way I react. Just like I am sure he will be in all of his family every day of their lives.
Stories and Memories from Dan's Semi-Foster (s)kids (i.e Brooklyn's friends)
Introduction
Hello,
My name is Jason Gallagher and since we heard the news of Dan's passing I wanted to reach out to the friends that spent a lot of time with Dan in our teenage years. Over the few weeks, we compiled memories and stories and wanted to share with all of you. Dan and Judy didn't have to like second parents to their daughters friends but they were. We spent almost every school day at Brooklyn's house and Dan and Judy interacted with us like we were their own.
Dan you will be missed. We all love you and the rest of the family.
I hope you enjoy.
Jason
___________________________________________________________________________
Memories
Sarah Chapman
“Beautiful soul, natural caregiver, genuine compassion, abundant empathy, ridiculous sense of humor, sci-fi guru. I'm not sure if Dan was fully aware of the impact he had on so many of our lives. He listened without judgement and always with an open heart. Radiating positivity and love he was a source of uplifting comfort.Dan welcomed a group of weird teenagers into his home, daily, and never once said it was time for us to leave. As matter of fact he opened his home to some when they had nowhere else to lay their head at night. He took us all into his heart and made us feel like a part of his family, taking his time to listen and even learn from each of us. Dan provided guidance and laughter during times of confusion and darkness both during adolescence and adulthood. He always had the very right words of wisdom. Truly a one of a kind spirit and human being. Thank you for sharing him with us and allowing our lives to be enriched by him, he will forever be missed by so many. May our memories bring you comfortable and laughter and help to keep his beautiful spirit alive.”
Brian Mueller
“Dan and Judy were kind and caring enough to give a punk kid like me a place to live when I didn’t have one.. I am forever grateful for the love they showed me when my life was a mess. I will miss you Dan.”
Kayde Przybylski
“Dan is a beautiful soul and was a source of light for many.”
Kevin Gallagher
“Dan was such a kind, caring and awesome person. He was so cool, meeting him as teenager while hanging out at your house. He always a joy to he around, a couple times I'd go to your house for whatever, but you weren't home and I would end up hanging out with him for a while. Which as a teenager hanging out with a friends parent is not too normal, granted alot of our friends parents were super cool too. I haven't seen Dan in a while, but he was a big help to me when I was in a very dark place some years back.”
“I remembered this time Brooke has us over for a bonfire and Dan was telling stories as he quite often did. I can't remember what the build up was, but he was talking about how his jaw would lock up due to some reason then a little bit later throughout the story, he paused and put his hand to his cheek and started to mumble a bit. Which was saying his jaw was stuck again and I moved a little closer to see if I could help. He pointed showing where his jaw was stuck and needed help getting it unstuck. I was about to bring hand to his jaw and then he just did a barking noise and scared the crap out of me! Haha I think I jumped back 2ft!!”
Angie Hill-Griffith
“Dan always showed us grubby kids so much respect. Always with such genuine love and interest. He's the kind of dude that you meet and instantly feel like you can be yourself and won't be judged. Such a lover, with so much wisdom. Dan was one of the coolest adults I remember as a kid.”
Jaci Ott
“One of my favorite memories of Dan was one of the nights we were hanging out in the basement we decided to watch the Wizard of Oz and Dan asked us if we had ever played Dark side of the moon, and in mid sentence he said.. Hold on , I’m gonna grab the cd, he came back with it and we all got to watch and be amazed at how they synced together.”
Amber Paul
“Ha-ha! I was over when Brook walked in on him getting out of the shower. There was a scream, some embarrassment then, like, "meh, whatevs"”
Mindy Fransen-Phelan
Not really a specific memory, more of an impact...He was always smiling, I can’t picture him with anything other than a smile on his face. He always spoke to me as adult, not just an awkward teen. He asked questions and listened with genuine interest. Really, truly listened. Getting that sort of respect and validation as a teenager from an adult was rare.
Jason Gallagher
“Most parents get to know their kid's friend but you did so much more. You encouraged us to be ourselves. You listened to our issues, you shared your wisdom through stories of your past and what you have learned in your life. I remember one thing you told me about our group of friends. You said that we have something special because we created an unbreakable bond with each other that will never go away. And, 20 something years later, he is still right.”
Eric Wright
"A man that provided a calming voice of reason in my youth will still making all of us laugh. He's steady through chaos like nothing I've ever seen."
"Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes, I'll never love blue eyes again"
My nightly lullaby when I was little for me to fall asleep. I'll be humming it tonight daddy.
Until I see you in heaven, please be here with me, show me signs you're still here with me, and mostly please comfort Paxton and amelia, you were there safe place amongst all the chaos in there life.
I love you for always and will carry you in my heart.
12 days since I last heard your voice, 5 days since you left this earth. A lifetime of memories, my heart aches I miss you so much, the feeling that I've been having is the expectation of life going on. How does life go on when so many have this huge whole in our hearts. The biggest part of our family was ripped away from us. Our dad, our grandpa, our moms one true love. Even though his presence lives on in us, life will never be the same.
I will forever be grateful for being introduced to Dan Powell. He was kind, funny, caring and just an overall wonderful person. He was everyone's Dad, Grandpa and Brother no matter who you were. He loved everyone. He never placed judgement against anyone and loved everyone for who they were. He also had a listening ear for anything anyone wanted to say and his advice for any situation either changed a perspective or helped in some way. Dan will be missed by many people.
To the Powell Family, if you need anything we are here for you. You are all loved and I hope you will cherish the memories you made with your loved one.
I have attached some pictures of Dan that I had saved. Fishing in Florida was one of my most memorable times with Dan. He was a great sport and a memory I will cherish forever. My only regret is not spending more time with him.
You know ,I would always watch father's and daughters and feel wonder and maybe just a little jealousy. I would think about what it must be like to have a 'daddy'. I thought I" had "Dan but I didn't have that with him.
Charlotte is having a really hard time with her "best friend grandpa" being gone. It's such a hard , heartbreaking lesson on how unfair and cruel life can be. But grandpa would want her to remember all the good times they had and all the love they shared.
I met Dan at a big party when I was about 11 years old. Dan was funny and a great guy from my experience with him. I still remember the first baby I ever held. Dan let me hold his son Zach! Everyone has a Dan story that will live on.
So sorry for your loss. Hope your memories bring you comfort
Love this.
When Dan and I were young men, we fought some of the same demons, and we shared a love of music. It is/was great therapy and solace. This is the only picture of Danny that I have. He rocked, loving the bass line! My prayers and love to his family.
Our youngest granddaughter Ameila stayed over last night. Dan provided daycare for her and Paxton up until November 2017. She reminded me that grandpa forgot to take his phone to heaven; from the innocence of the young, love how their imaginations and beliefs are so real, it is comforting. She then told me that grandpa is in her heart and wondered if he was with his Mom and Dad now. Love to listen to the young ones talk about him and where he is. She wanted to throw something up to him today.
When I was a kid, Danny was my idol. He played guitar and had cool comic books, records and the best sense of humor. He would make my grandma and grandpa laugh until they cried. He was always the mediator with every family argument. When I was living with my grandpa after grandma died, just out of high school, grandpa and I got in a big yelling argument. Danny had come to visit right after. He listened to both sides of our argument and when I stood up to grandpa, he started laughing until he couldn't breathe. Later he said "Suz, I have never in my life seen someone stand up to him the way you did." Of course it wasn't a big deal and we all got over it, but he had a way of finding the part that built you up and shined it in your face. ♡
Our daughter Danielle Fogerty made it her mission in life to dedicate songs to Dan and I. You're still the one...by Shania Twain was one of the first ones and has always been our song. We would dance to the song and our dog would join us. Such good memories.
I barely knew Dan, though I first met him as David and Diane’s little brother on that rambler on Colfax across from the corn field. I knew Dan’s parents and siblings.Many years later, I met him again through David and had a number of friendly conversations with him. But I write to say that David so treasured and adored Dan and I know he will very much miss him. I am sorry for your loss, Judy and family.
Thank you to everyone that has reached out during this really difficult time. It warms my heart to see so many people remembering Dan from as far back as junior high for me and grade school for my siblings. Each and every comment, message, text, and phone call was appreciated. I really can’t think of anyone with a bigger heart than him. This sadness is so heavy and we miss you so much already.
"I like to walk with grandpa, he takes his time you see. His steps are little just like mine, he stops and waits for me. He let's me ask him questions, he let's me hold his hand. He makes me feel 10 feet tall, and I think that he is grand. He says there's no one like me and gold is what I'm worth. When I get to walk with grandpa I'm the luckiest kid on earth"
