Daniel was born November 26, 1930, in Kansas City, Missouri, where he and his siblings were raised by Italian immigrant parents. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Rockhurst College in 1951 and a master’s degree in physics from St. Louis University in 1954. On July 21, 1954, he married Dorothy Brandt, beginning a 66-year journey together.
Soon after, Dan and Dorothy (who Dan called “Dot”) moved to New Jersey, where Dan served the Army for 2 years at Picatinny Arsenal. While there, the newlyweds were able to explore New York City and share Sunday pasta and “gravy” with Dan’s Italian immigrant relatives Uncle Mike and Aunt Ida. Dan and Dorothy then relocated to the Midwest to start a family, and Dan began a lifelong career at Lake City Arsenal in Independence, MO, working as a ballistics physicist.
From childhood until his latest years, Dan was a do-it-yourselfer with an amazing capacity to solve any intellectual problem; finicky electronics and misbehaving mechanical contraptions were no match for his mind. He introduced his kids to scientific pursuits by helping them build simple radios and encouraging them to explore the night skies with the family’s telescope.
Dan’s Italian hospitality was never-ending. He invited countless co-workers over for dinner (which, largely, his wife Dorothy cooked!) and in his later years always offered any stoppers-by a cup of coffee and a slice of Mrs. Smith’s pie. He was deeply empathetic and always extended himself to anyone in crisis.
Dan’s greatest joy was his family. His smile shone brightest, and his dry, impish sense of humor was at its best in the presence of his immediate and extended Italian family: his wife and kids, and his mom, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephew. He relished in the jokes, the pranks, the singing, the irreverence and the good-natured insults (and the food!) that were in abundance at those family gatherings. After Dorothy passed, Dan’s greatest pleasure was time spent with his children and his raucous nieces and grandchildren.
Dan’s faith was strong. He and Dorothy were inaugural members of St. Bernadette’s Parish for over 60 years where he volunteered as a “money counter” and a lector. At “St. B’s”, Dan cultivated cherished friendships with numerous clergy over the decades and tried to never miss any of the parish’s communal meals!
Dan was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, father Mario, mother Anita, brother Alex, sister Jean and son-in-law David Jonassen (Rose). He is survived by his children Paul, Mike (Kathy), Rose and Carol (Lee) and grandchildren Ryan (Gabby) and Elise, and numerous nieces and nephews who loved their “Uncle Danny”. We are so happy he is reunited with his beloved Dot, but as the last living Marra elder, he will be deeply missed by many.
Visitation 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Friday August 2, 2024, with a rosary at 5:45pm St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church 9020 E 51 Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64133). Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 am Saturday August 3, 2024, Fr. James Taranto presiding at the church. Burial immediately following mass at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64138. Arrangements by McGilley & Sheil Funeral Home (816-353-6555).
Donations are suggested to: Rockhurst University (online at https://engage.rockhurst.edu/register/givetrueblue, or checks can be mailed to 1100 Rockhurst Rd, ATTN: MAS 235, Kansas City, Missouri 64110) OR The Sisters of St. Francis (checks can be mailed to 2100 Noland Rd. Independence, Missouri 64050). Flowers may be sent to St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church.
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