Daniel S. McElroy

Daniel S. McElroy, 58, of Robinson, Illinois, passed away peacefully while surrounded by family and close friends Dec. 4, 2015, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana. Daniel was born in Sweetsburg, Quebec, Canada Sept. 12, 1957.

The devoted husband, father, grandfather, and son leaves behind his wife, Deena McElroy; his parents, Terry and Shirley McElroy; his sons, Quintin and Duncan McElroy; his daughter, Hailey Charpentier; a son-in-law, Jason Charpentier; his younger siblings, David, Debbie, and Derek McElroy; his granddaughters, Lauren and Lindsey Charpentier; his so-called "bastard sons," best friends of his sons, Drew Spade and Jordan Waggoner; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.

Raised in Connecticut, Daniel was a member of one of the first classes of the Vernon Police Explorers. He developed a blue-collar work ethic and never passed up an opportunity to work hard or have fun. Later, he worked as head of security for Purdy Corp., then as a garage foreman at Eastern Bus Lines in Bolton and The Arrow Line in East Hartford and Waterford. He married his wife, Deena, in 1986 and moved to Colchester in 1993. Dan and Deena then moved to rural Illinois in 1999. Daniel's parents still live in Vernon.

"Crabby Dan" was a dreamer; his never-ending pursuit of happiness was rivaled only by his pursuit of delivering the perfect quip at the right time to catch even the wittiest of his friends off guard. Dan was a committed family man. Despite the wear and tear of working nights for many years to provide for his family, Dan always seemed to be a bit quicker, stronger, and a lot smarter than his sons - a true mark of a father. Never passing up an opportunity to embarrass them with his latest pair of brightly colored shoes, discussing the intricacies of "beard envy" over his Merlin-like beard or reaffirming his love for his wife with a goofy dance to the latest top-40 song, Daniel was really seldom crabby or grumpy, despite what his nickname may imply. He was full of the highest zest for life, and never passed up an opportunity to push those around him to be better than they thought they could be.

Though he may have gone in what felt like an instant, his memory and passion for life will live on for years with the people who knew and loved him.

A private service was held for family.

Arrangements were made by Goodwine Funeral Homes, of Robinson.