Dan C Dancey

He was born in Pekin on August 6, 1945 to Jim and Ila Dancey.  Surviving are his beloved and devoted wife, Dale J. Dancey, a sister, Bonnie Onopa, a nephew, Beau Heilman, his aunt and uncle, Nina and Chuck Dancey, and a host of loving cousins and friends.

Preceding him in death were his mother, Ila, his father, Jim, his brother, Jay, and his adopting mother, Mildred (Sis) Dancey.

Dan was a 1963 graduate of Pekin Community High School and a 1972 graduate of the University of Illinois in Electrical Engineering.  He served in the United States Army from 1965 to 1967, with his tour of duty in Korea.

He was a fine engineer, a hard and conscientious worker, and a generous co-worker.  He worked in the power construction industry in Illinois, and on the construction of nuclear plants in Clinton, and in Dothan, Alabama.  In 1984 he joined the Abbott Power Plant-University of Illinois-team, and stayed with the University of Illinois until his retirement in 2008.

He fought a courageous and rewarding three year battle with cancer, and he managed to transform that fight, as with the other losses in his life, into greater love and compassion for others.   A kind and gentle soul, Dan was always thinking of the others around him.  The joy of his life, Dale, whom he married on October 27, 1993, was beside him as he left Wednesday; and he would want Bekah Dancey, Kate Lohman LaVigne, and Sarah Dancey hugged and thanked again for their love, devotion and care.

His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  There will be a gathering following the service for food, drink, stories, sorrow, and celebration for all attending, at a location to be announced. Cremation was accorded as was his desire.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com