Dan William PICKEREL

September 14, 1953 - April 13, 2024

Spokane Valley - Dan William Pickerel died at home in Spokane Valley, Washington, on April 13, 2024.

The second oldest of five siblings, Dan grew up in Otis Orchards and later Spokane Valley, where he attended East Valley and later Argonne Junior High. At West Valley High School, Dan wrestled competitively and graduated the class of 1972.

After high school, Dan worked as a greenskeeper at Hangman Valley Golf Course. He later moved to Seattle, where his keen ability to connect with others helped him build a successful career in electrical sales.

After returning to Spokane in the 1990s, always buzzing with a new business idea, Dan helped open Java Jump, one of Spokane's first drive-thru coffee stands. Later, he launched DanHandy Contractor Inc. In the years that followed, when his mother needed help managing her dementia, Dan kept her company and gave her his stalwart support.

Dan loved discovering a good deal, drinking delicious coffee, listening to Steve Ray Vaughan, taking road trips, & being with his family. He could be fearless and stubborn to a fault. And although he struggled with addiction/alcoholism, that alone did not define him. Dan was also endlessly curious about others' lives and interests. He was generous with his time, friendship, and a good joke. He made us laugh all the time. He would help anyone who needed assistance. Dan, an animal lover, had a tender heart for cats.

Dan is survived by his daughter, Madeline Ann Pickerel; and four siblings, John Pickerel, Tori Pickerel, Holly Pickerel, and Wendi Pickerel. His father, Robert Pickerel, and his mother, Charlene Pickerel, preceded him in death.

A memorial service is scheduled for October 20th, at 11 a.m., at Center Place, 2426 N. Discovery Pl., Spokane Valley. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to The Spokane Human Society in Dan's name (https://spokanehumanesociety.org/memorial-donations/).