Daniel Ureke

After 94 years of living life to the fullest, Daniel Ureke was welcomed into the waiting arms of his Savior on January 5, 2018. Born in Chicago, Illinois on October 4, 1923, Daniel proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Later, while working as a carpenter, he made his home in Texas where he found his wife of 46 years and raised his family. He provided for his family by working as a life insurance salesman which he saw as his way of helping people help themselves, but he never lost his love for building things with his hands.

A lover of music, those who knew him also knew of his trumpet and harmonica, and he sang in his church’s choir and played guitar and harmonica in a community band well into his eighties.

Most of all, Daniel loved people. There were no strangers, only friends that “Uncle Danny” had yet to meet.

Daniel is preceded in death by his father John Ureke, mother Linca Rusu-Ureke, brothers Savu, Pante, and George Ureke, sister Ann Jelinek, and his wife Bettie Allen-Ureke.

He leaves behind a legacy of dignity, integrity, and most of all love to his daughter Danna Ureke, son John Ureke, granddaughters Tammy Mikeska, Angela Mikeska, and Mary Ureke-Walls, grandsons Shane Mikeska, Joshua Ureke, and Stephen Ureke, and great-grandchildren Jayden Villarreal, Sage Villarreal, Danica Slade, Caleb Walls, Annalisse Walls, and Madelyn Ureke.