Dana Duane Daniels was born November 19, 1963 in Livingston, Montana to Duane Gene Daniels and Marjorie (Winnie) Winifred Byford. He passed away in Heber, Arizona, November 23, 2022 on the trip home from Phoenix, Arizona after his second cancer surgery.
Dana was an Alliance High Graduate of 1982. He attended Chadron State College for one year before deciding the Army was a better fit for him. He was enlisted in the Army from 1983-1986, spending a one year tour in South Korea.
He married his High School sweetheart, Liz Jones, in Alliance NE in May, 1985. They had a life filled with much love and many adventures making for beautiful memories to cherish. Together they are blessed with two beautiful daughters.
Growing up in Montana, Dana was naturally an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved to camp and later in his life got to enjoy the great outdoors at their cabin in the Black Hills, riding ATV's, fishing and just relaxing with his family, friends and his dog Otis. It was most definitely his happy place.
Dana was very athletic, playing baseball in Montana and being a successful track & field athlete at Alliance High. He was part of the 4x800 relay in 1982 that won a gold medal at the State Track Meet, setting a new school record for that year.
Dana and Liz lived in several states before returning to Alliance and starting his career of 28 years at the BNSF Railroad and was looking forward to retirement. But his cancer had a different plan. Through the railroad, he gained some of his best friends that he enjoyed spending time with, drinking a few beers and solving all the world’s problems.
He was a good person and loved to help anyone in need, from his family and friends, to a homeless man, Sam in Phoenix that he felt some sort of connection to while he was undergoing his cancer treatment. He just knew so much about so many things - he will be sorely missed.
Dana is survived by his wife, Liz and two daughters, Stephanie Kathleen and Madison Marie and his best dog Otis, all of Alliance, NE. He is also by his sisters, Paula Daniels (children Daniel and Stephen Grahek) of Polson, MT and Rhonda (Chuck) Dentler (children Nicole and Cody) of Hemingford, NE along with numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, both here in the United States and in England, where his mother was from. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and two nephews.
The saying "Only the good die young" is very true in this case. Forever an empty place in our life’s, but what an awesome guardian angel we have ...
Memorial services will be Friday, December 2, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church.
The family prefers memorials be given to either Veterans State Cemetery At Alliance Foundation or to H.O.R.C.N., an organization in Heber, AZ that assisted Dana’s family when he passed away in their town on the way home. Those memorials may be sent in care of the family to 1846 Niobrara Avenue, Alliance, NE 69301.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.