Daniel Louis Clark

Dan, affectionately called Danny by his family, was born on November 28, 1966 in Battle Creek, MI to Ernest and Mary Clark. As the youngest of six, son of a teacher and sales manager Dan knew no strangers and had a quick wit. He grew up in Connersville, IN to a large Irish Catholic family whose doors were always open to their friends and visiting family. At the young age of 13, Dan became an uncle to his first of 12 nieces and nephews whom he loved to tease and have tag along with him. Faith and family were core values instilled in him at a young age from his loving family that he lived by for all the days of his life. From a young age Dan enjoyed going to Notre Dame Football games with his family and cheering on the Fighting Irish. He also looked forward to attending basketball camps at his dad’s alma mater Indiana University. He attended Connersville High School and enjoyed playing basketball for the Spartans, the sport that Indiana holds most dear.

After graduating in 1985 he continued playing basketball at Mississippi College. In 1987, he joined the United States Air Force and served in Operation Desert Storm. After being Honorably Discharged Dan recalled the great summers, he had during high school visiting his brother Ernie and sister-in-law Ierma in Austin, TX. And the good times he had visiting his other brother Bill and family friend Jeff in Houston, TX while based at England AFB in Louisiana. So he decided to move with his friend Dave to Dallas, TX and they stayed with Dave’s brother and sister-in-law Jim and Sharon. It was during this time of transition that Dan was making a trip between Indiana and Texas and stopped in the little town of Brazeau, MO to become the godfather of one of his best friends from the military and his former wife’s (John and Melanie) two daughters at their baptismal. On that day, in front of the church he met his future wife (John’s sister) Crystal Leimbach. Just over a year later in November of 1993 he and Crystal married in that same small church surrounded by a large group of family and friends that still comment on the great time had by all on that special day.

Dan and Crystal made the Dallas area their home and both attended the University of Texas at Arlington. Dan graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications in 1995. After purchasing their first home they welcomed two sons, Daniel and Jackson. Dan was a supervisor for the Chrysler Corporation MOPAR division and got promotional opportunities that moved the family to the Detroit, MI area and then to the St. Louis, MO area. While in St. Louis they welcomed their third and final child, Christina. Although they enjoyed that these locations allowed them to see more of both of their extended families Texas was always “home” in Dan’s heart. So when another promotional opportunity came for the Dallas area they moved their family back to Texas. Dan worked for Chrysler for over twenty years. Through his strong work ethic and management style of supporting his employees he made a strong network of friends at all levels of the organization. Recently Dan was enjoying a new career with American Airlines managing in their warehouse division. His family is forever grateful for the kindness and support they’ve shown Dan’s family during this difficult time.

Dan loved baseball and was a Texas Rangers fan. He and his wife’s first apartment was walking distance to the Texas Rangers stadium. If they weren’t at the game they enjoyed watching it from home with the windows open so they could hear the cheers from the stadium. From the start they enjoyed attending many Rangers games and continued taking family and friends throughout the years. During their time in Michigan and Missouri Dan didn’t miss an opportunity to take his family to see the Rangers at a stadium within driving distance.

Dan was a family man. If he was not at work he was with his family. He enjoyed watching his children play sports and even helped manage some of his oldest son’s baseball teams. The family traveled the country for the kids sports competitions but their favorite trip was the one Dan organized for Daniels team to play in Cooperstown, NY. They stayed in an old farmhouse with other friends and family that had its own field that the whole team and their families played games on. Dan loved raising his family in Texas. He picked the community of Trophy Club to call home and enjoyed the great friends he and his family made setting up roots there. Just as he teased and doted on his nieces and nephews he loved to tease and dote on his kids and their friends. He enjoyed taking them on spontaneous outings or cooking up a meal. Dan loved to grill but everyone’s favorite was his steaks and he happily shared his recipe with those that asked. He had a big heart, gave 110% to whatever he did and whomever he called a friend and loved a good laugh. Dan was a man of deep faith, who always put family first, that loved his country, believed in a strong work ethic, doing the right thing and was a true friend. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Dan is survived by his loving wife, Crystal of 28 years. He is the proud father of Daniel, Jackson and Christina Clark of Trophy Club, TX. He is also survived by his loving mother, Mary Clark of Connersville, IN and 5 siblings: Patricia (Bruce) Fassold of Connersville, IN; Thomas (Denise) Clark of Indianapolis, IN; Ernie (Ierma) Clark of Carmel, IN; William (Karen) Clark of Greenwood, IN and Peggy (Allen) Gilland of Tipton, IN. He loved being called Uncle Danny by his 12 Clark nieces and nephews Matt Fassold, Megan (Brian) Munchel, Melissa Clark, Sarah Love, Amanda (Todd) Glowacki, Joe Clark, Michael Clark, Louis (Vanessa) Clark, Holly Clark, Courtney (Nate) Weishaar, Steven Gilland and Scott (Shanon) Gilland and 8 Leimbach nieces and nephews Gabrielle Coelho, Shelbey Owen, Mika Leimbach, Jace (Destinee) Leimbach, Christian Leimbach, Alexis Genasci, Ashley Genasci and Cadance Cavanagh. He loved his many great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Dan was preceded in death by his loving father, Ernest Clark.

Family and friends may honor Dan at his Celebration of Life on Sunday, October 23, 2022 from 1:30-4:30pm at Keller’s Old Town Funeral Home 220 Keller Parkway, Keller, TX 76248. The Rosary will be held at 4:30pm.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 24, 2022 at 11:30am at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church at 2016 Willis Lane, Keller, TX 76248. Dan will be laid to rest that afternoon at 2:30pm at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery with military rites conducted by the US Honors Guard.

Memorial donations may be made to The Headstrong Project or St. Gabrielle’s School. The simplest way to give would be to write a check to:

Saint Gabriel School

224 W 9th Street

Connersville, IN 47331

In the memo write: School endowment in memory of Danny Clark.

Or a person can give online by control clicking on the link below

https://www.wesharegiving.org/app/giving/WeShare-20001118?tab=home.

Other charities special to Dan are: The Headstrong Project. www.theheadstrongproject.org and Cohen Veterans Network, www.cohenveteransnetwork.org

.