Daniel Oris "Dan" Benwell

Daniel Benwell, a joy to his family and many friends, passed away Tuesday, March 26th, 2024. His great big heart went to sing and dance with his Lord (but mostly sing) in freedom once again.
Dan was born in the city of St. Louis on January 11th, 1952 to Joseph and Ona Benwell, the youngest of 7 full siblings and an eldest half-brother. He was pre-deceased by his parents, half-brother Robert, brother Ken, and sisters Jean, Jackie and Barb.
He is survived by his wife, Janet, his daughter Katie, his son Andrew (wife Risa), and grandsons Daniel and Samuel. He is also survived by his brother Joe (wife Jan) Benwell, sister Ona Vititoe, and brother-in-law Bill Bandy. He will be missed by them all, and by his dog Charli-girl with whom Dan spent years walking around Wentzville.
Dan was a 7th grade science teacher at the Wentzville School District for 25 years. He loved teaching everything from dissecting frogs, to water rockets, to his favorite book The Hobbit.
He built and coached the 8th grade girls' basketball team program for many years.
Making music was Dan's passion. He sang in The Choral Arts Singers all year and rocked out with his band at the Friendship Brewery once a month, particularly during the summer heat. Dan also loved volunteering with the Boone Home as a character reenactor and as a builder. He assisted Volunteers-In-Medicine for 14 years by coding medical records for the free clinic.
Making music with the Wentzville United Methodist church choir and praise band carried Dan through his retirement years. Singing and learning musical instruments were the foundation of Dan's heart. He learned to play the piano, harmonica, ukulele, bass guitar, fiddle, bodhran, the bowed psaltry, and the chanter, sometimes just to tease his family.
A memorial service will be scheduled for the summer of 2024.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dan Benwell are suggested to one of the following:
Choral Arts Singers
428 Marble Fields Dr.
Wentzville, MO 63385
Crossroads Clinic Volunteers in Medicine
10890 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Lake St Louis, MO 63367
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