I am so sad to hear about Dan. He changed the course of my life for the better. He instilled in me confidence and true enjoyment in my chosen career. He was a dear friend too. I send my love and prayers to his beautiful Georgia and their family.

On the few occasions that I met Dan, he was very outgoing, friendly and super easy to talk to.  Shannon and I appreciate very much being able to stay at the Sumner's home the night before her big French exam at IU - just an example of his giving nature....

I remember sitting with Dan at one of our visits to his home for Christmas.  I always liked these visits and so did my kids.  The Sumners are always so hospitable!  Anyway, he and I were sitting and talking about health matters after he had spent some significant time in the hospital.  I specifically remember Dan reflecting back on that time and telling me, "When my 'time' comes, I want it to be fast, not long and dragged out, you know?"  

Well it seems he got his wish, and as hard as this may be for his family, I'm sure he is in a much better place now.  It's good to know that such a terrific man did not suffer long.

"Dan, you will always be remembered as a treasured friend. You had so many friends and made each one feel like they were your best friend. You have left a wonderful Godly legacy for your children. I remember you first in the West Washington St. Church of God Youth Group. Then our friendship grew from there! I will always remember your laugh, your love and commitment to your family, and your love for your friends. You are sadly missed. We will cherrish every memory we have of you. I love your family dearly, and they are in our prayers."

On a note of brevity,  I went to the web link that I sent out to everyone to access the song I dedicated to Dan, My Life's Been A Pleasure, by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson from their Pancho and Lefty album and, to my great surprise, there's this really old Guy on YouTube singing my and Dan's song!!! Lol somehow, something got mixed up!  The next next choice down was the real song that a couple from OK who married in 1984 posted and it IS the original recording, which is SO much better!  You can also buy it on iTunes for 99 cents!!

Just wanted to clear that up because it means a lot to me fior friends and family to hear the original!

All this to say that my life HAS truly been a Pleasure and that IS because of DAN.

Love to you all.

Dan always looked you in the eyes when he spoke to you.  I remember playing softball and basketball with Dan for several years on our church leagues and he always gave 110%. He always had a smile on his face no matter what and had time for you.  Dan will be missed.

Dan always had a smile on his face. You always felt better after talking with Dan. He was a great, kind and loving person. He leaves a wonderful legacy.

So sad to hear of the passing of Dan. He was a wonderful man that will be missed terribly by all that knew him. Much love to your family, Annie Brock (George and Joan Baca's youngest daughter) Olathe, KS

Dan Sumner, you remain one of the nicest men I have ever met. Every interaction with you during our years at Premier was helpful, thoughtful, and inspiring. How blessed we were to have you as our leader, co-woker and friend. Planet earth has lost a good guy, but the lessons you left behind leave your world better off and a better place because you were here. My heart breaks for Georgia and your family missing you. Heaven has brought you back and it is sure your guidance will continue with the help from above. Peggy Lee-Tocco

Mike and I are very sorry for your loss. Dan was very kind and always had a smile on his face. We loved Dan and will miss him. Our prayers are with all of you.

I am so very sorry for you loss. My prayers and thoughts will be with you and your family during these times.
Mary Jo Pennington

Kriss and I are very sorry for your loss. We feel blessed to have Dan (and you) as part of our lives. Dan always had a smile and treated us like family with words of encouragement and great advice, when we asked for it. He will be forever in our hearts.

MY WRITTEN TRIBUTE TO DAN
    
By Georgia Sumner, April 22, 2013

At my request, I would ask each of you to listen to a special song that I feel expresses some of my personal sentiments about Dan and the lifetime of happiness he gave me.  It is from an album called Pancho and Lefty, "My Life's Been A Pleasure" by Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard. You may need to copy and paste the following link to hear it:

http://www.maxilyrics.com/merle-haggard-and-willie-nelson-my-life%27s-been-a-pleasure-video-ffda.html

I'm not a huge country music fan, but this song has been a favorite of mine for a very long time. Dan and I have both loved Willie Nelson's guitar playing and songs for many years.  We had the pleasure of attending his April concert here in Bloomington just a few days ago.

Dan gave me the greatest happiness I'd ever known when we met and fell in love in 1964.  I felt his true love throughout our lifetime together and he always made me feel as if it was his greatest pleasure to love me and our children.  I was and always will be, humbled by his devotion.  We married Jan. 23, 1965 and were blessed to celebrate our 48th wedding anniversary this year.

When our children came along, Dan was so thrilled and became an enthusiastic, loving father.  He truly cared about his family's well being and always put us first.  His mom and dad, his brothers, sister and their families, his in-laws, all were dear to him. He was so happy and proud to be part of a large, close knit family.  His closest friends were cherished like family and I believe they felt the same in return.

I really have no idea how to stand alone or how to face each tomorrow without him, it just seems an impossible task. I'm not ashamed to say, I wish so greatly to be with him, while realizing that this thought is selfish to my family, beyond my control and must always be in God's hands.  And my children are helping me to see that I must eventually develop a new phase of life while presently supporting me in every way possible.

Yesterday was the second hardest day of my life, Wednesday being the worst. Only God's great help has brought me through these dark hours.  God's great grace was given to me yesterday especially during the service when I distinctly felt the unexpected Peace that Passeth All Understanding.  Without it, I would have failed the task at hand for certain.

I was sincerely honored on Dan's behalf for the many tributes and kind words given yesterday and all the kind people who came to show their respect for him, many from out of state.  Dan deserved it all and even more.

My heartfelt thanks goes out to our dear pastor, Mel Nead and his wife, Jan for their loving, emotional and spiritual help, to Joanne Steele for being there for me in my hour of greatest need, to my dear friend Cathy Strauser and her husband Terry, for their beautiful singing of "Come to Jesus" and "Be Thou My Vision".

My gratitude goes out to our son Dan for his quietly beautiful guitar music, "While my Guitar Gently Weeps and Here Comes the Sun" (from The Beatles whom Dan and I saw in 1964!)  and his spoken words of tribute to his father for himself and for his brother, Jason. Also to our son-in-law Chris for his brave reading of our daughter Julia's words about her father, to our honor student granddaughter Maren for reading Julia's letter from her father to her when she a baby, and also for the sweet words from Will about his grandfather with whom he shared the love of golf, Indy racing and IU basketball. 

Further thanks to daughter-in-law Amy for her thoughtful and loving loan of a healing angel talisman to hold on to and then pass along to someone else in need when the  time is right. Also to daughter-in-law Anita for her loving support of us all and for her tender care of our precious little grandbaby, Lilly, who brought great joy to her grandma and grandpa's life this past year, a joy she brings to all who meet her.  

Dan was a tenderhearted man who absolutely loved his children and babies and took every opportunity to hold and love his grandchildren as much and as often as he could.  Our family always laughingly called him the "Baby Hog" because Dan would only give them up to someone else to hold unless they cried and he couldn't calm them. :-)

A heartfelt "thank you" for the wonderful meal our church family provided and to all who worked and contributed to it, a labor of love that was so appreciated.

I want to extend special thanks to Don Frye for his very kind and experienced help in dealing with all the funeral details involved and for his emotional support as well. Also, many thanks to his kind assistant, Gary Arvin at Deremiah Frye Funeral Home who went out of his way to accommodate our requests. They could not have been more kind, considerate and helpful at such a difficult time.  This was so appreciated.

There are so many people that I want to give thanks to that I haven't mentioned by name, you know who you are; those of you who have been praying for me for strength and courage, those who sent flowers, food, gifts, cards, emails, visits, comments on FB and the Tribute Page at www.dignitymemorial.com/deremiah-frye-mortuary-greene-harrell/en-us/index.page

The outpouring of love and support for our entire family has been amazing.

Gratitude is extended to all our family, dear friends and neighbors who have given food, cards and condolences and offered their support to us in so many sincere ways. We thank you ALL for your great kindness!

I am presently, and will continue to lean heavily on my faith, family and close friends to help me through what I know will be very difficult and sad days ahead.  Dan's passing was so sudden and unexpected that it still doesn't seem real or even possible. How can I learn to live in a world without Dan; my best friend and partner since I was 18 years old?  

Julia, Chris, Jason, Anita, Danny and Amy have been so exemplary in doing everything that must be done at a time like this and taking almost total care of me personally through these tragic few days.  I know they also are in profound shock and grief for their father and I hope to find more strength to comfort them in the days to come.  I truly could not be prouder of them for all they've done and I know that their dad in Heaven must be feeling the very same way. Our precious grandchildren, Will, Maren and Lilly have each comforted me in their own special way. My close friends have told me they are there for me day or night and I know they are sincere. Gratitude fills my heart for their love.

I am certainly not the first to experience this type of sudden loss, but I had not the slightest clue of how devastating it could be.
Only the love of God, my children, family and friends has made it at all bearable.

To bring this tribute to an end, I would like to add these closing thoughts from my heart:

Dan had more love, more integrity, more character, and a more positive attitude in the face of adversity than anyone I have ever known. I do wish I had told him more how much I appreciated him and how proud I was of his strength and tenacity.

He was the love of my life and always will be.

Dad, you were the best role model any son could ever ask for.  From my earliest days I always remember a loving, giving Father who set nothing but a good example for us. You loved to have fun with us just playing basketball , various games or sometimes taking us on a special trip with the family. You always knew from day number one that family and friends were number one in your life Dad. It showed in every aspect and it was and is the right way to live. Thank you for giving unselfishly in a world that often preaches the opposite. Thank you for being a true class act and always treating Mom, us and everyone you met with respect. You are a man of true character and wisdom. 

During my entire life (just a month short of 43 years) you  always went out of your way to make others happy. Not just family but friends, strangers, just about anyone. I never remember a time when you didn't exude a positive attitude even during difficult times when others would have just given up. You had a great aura and positivity about you Dad and it rubbed off on everyone, including your kids. You taught us so much more than what can be expressed in a few paragraphs here on a tribute site but I thought I would try. Thank you for all of it and more Dad, we owe so much to you and are so fortunate that you were our Dad/

l will forever on this earth miss just being able to stop by and chat about anything with you without fear of judgement. You always would listen and open your heart to whatever we needed to talk about. You always had solutions and way of explaining things in manner that made sense.

We had SO many wonderful family times together which I'll always cherish. Traveling to so many wonderful places and seeing so much.  Going forward, I'll miss these times but I'll always think of you and know that you are there in Heaven on the other side smiling knowing that we'll meet again one day. Especially at the Holidays, at Memorial day at the race and during the IU games it will be a challenge but I know you'll be smiling and I'll always save a seat for you Dad, knowing that you'll be right next to me having a great time. I'll miss just dropping by to watch the game or talk or do whatever. Just spending time with you not matter what we did, always made me a happier and better person. 

It's getting late, I"m exhausted but rest assured Dad, I'll be back here again with more thoughts on why I love and appreciate you so much. I could never have asked for more from a Father than what you gave.  Love forever, your son. Jason

Mark, Hugh, and I are so very, very sorry for your loss.  We know Dan was a very special person, full of love and excitement for life.  You have our deepest sympathies.

I'm overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and the tributes to Dan. Thank you.

You were like a second father to me. I will miss you very much.

Georgia, Our prayers and thoughts are with you and the family.

My father was a loving, generous, and dedicated family man. 
I have so many great memories of him
He sang to me when I was a baby, played ping pong and basketball with me, taught me to play golf, took me to church, instilled in me a love of racing taking me to indycar races in Michigan, and, of course, Indianapolis.  Took us across the country, to Colorado and Hawaii.
Most of all, dad showed his love by supporting and sacrificing for me, Jason and Julia.

When I was in 8th grade, I absolutely hated the school that I was attending, had few friends there and generally felt unaccepted there. I asked my Dad and mom to send me to a private high school in Indianapolis. It was expensive and far from our house. 
My dad figured out how to make it happen.  He sacrificed for me. 

He put up with endless hours of listening to me practice guitar

When I was finishing high school, I told my dad and mom that I wanted to go to college to study jazz guitar performance. And, that I wanted to do it at a small, private, out-of-state college. Looking back, I could barely play the thing, but I was accepted into the school and dad believed in me
He didn't even flinch, or try to talk me into studying something more practical

at the time it just seemed normal for him to support what I wanted to do.  He always had, and he always did. 

He drove over to Ohio to attend both my Junior and Senior recitals and graduation.

And, of course, after college, more expensive out-of-state graduate school.  Dad always supported me
Whenever I messed something up, or needed help, he was there. 

Dad told me that he was proud of me throughout my life
I am proud of him, 
for building a strong family, for forgiving me when I messed up,for the way he showed generosity to everyone, for fighting back from setbacks, mistakes, injustices done to him, and a massive traumatic brain injury that nearly took his life  

And most of all for the love and dedication he showed to our family throughout his life. 
I love my Dad and will miss him so much

My deepest condolences to Georgia and family.  I will forever have the fondest memories of Dan.  He was an outstanding gentleman and a superb salesman.  I learned some of my very best lessons from him while working together at Premier.  The world has lost a good man.

My warmest regards,

Cathy Judd

Georgia and family, our deepest condolences. Dan was a man of vision who treated everyone with respect and affection.  His faith in Dave after he hired him made a huge difference in our lives. Dan continued to encourage and believe in us long after other managers would have given up, and we were grateful his confidence paid off. He was not only respected, but loved by his employees and friends. What an inspirational man!

Georgia, our love and prayers go out to you and your family in the loss of Dan. We have wonderful memories of your family in the years we were together at Glendale and Church at the Crossing.  May you all sense God's peace and presence in the coming days.

Georgia and family,
        
      I will always have fond memories of our Village Farm 
days when we were raising our families.
      Dan was such a great guy!

~~Bill Kitchell

Georgia,  
Dan was one of the nicest and kindest men I've ever known.  He will be sorely missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

One of the biggest blessings in my life was having the opportunity to get to know Dan and you, Georgia during our Premier days. Words can't adequately convey the fine man that Dan was on a daily basis. Georgia, I love you both so much as your positive attitude, kindness, and character was personified in your actions always. My heart aches for you, your family, and friends as we will all miss the caring, considerate, dignified man of character that we all admired so much. I will never forget you and Dan coming to meet me at the Indianapolis airport and spending time with me - offering your love and support. It meant the world to me to get to see you and spend a little time with you both.  May God bless you, and my prayers are with you daily.

What an honor it was to have known and worked with Dan. He was an amazing man, and set a high standard for all who worked with him, and became his friend. I have many fun, wonderful memories of my times with Dan. Georgia, I'm sending you a big hug, and lots of love.

Georgia:
Our thoughts are with you and your family. Dan was a true gentleman.
Suzanne Pearson (Broad Axe, PA)

Dan was a very special person.  He will be missed.   Georgia and the entire family you are in our thoughts and prayers

OBITUARY

Robert Daniel "Dan" Sumner

December 13, 1943 – April 17, 2013

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