Daniel E. Crowley

Daniel E. Crowley, age 63, a lifelong resident of Naperville, IL, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2025. He was born July 4, 1962, in Naperville.
Dan was an avid fisherman and musician and a loving son, brother, uncle, and father. He had a fine eye for details, whether it was spotting a rare coin or a vintage guitar, tweaking his children's batting stances, or finding the best spot to make memories on a lake. A man of faith and compassion, he was always willing to lend an ear to family and to strangers. While he worked many different jobs in his life (including security, acting, minor league baseball, and even stunt driving), he considered being a father his primary occupation. His family fondly remembers taking camping and fishing trips to Wisconsin, looking up at meteor showers and solar eclipses, being serenaded by his guitar, and playing highly competitive games of whiffle ball on summer days.
Dan was an active member of his community and sought to help others whenever he could. It was not uncommon to find him changing someone's tire or pushing someone's car to safety. He coached and managed Little League teams for the Naperville Park District, cultivating a love of baseball in many Naperville youths. He also helped organize his neighborhood block party, bringing in talented musicians to play long into the night as the neighborhood chatted around a fire pit.
Dan lived to make those around him smile. He found great joy in treasure hunting and would travel vast distances if he could make someone's day brighter. Some of his favorite finds included a century-old saxophone, a Brazilian Rosewood guitar, and a Scottish broadsword; perhaps his most spectacular display was a 30-minute July 4th fireworks show he put on for family and friends.
Dan is survived by his children, Dan Crowley, Kelli Crowley, and Ben Crowley; his father, Robert Crowley; his brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Maria Crowley; and his nephew and niece, John and Bertha Crowley.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Alice Crowley; and his grandparents, Alice and Sam Brox.
For those who would like to leave a lasting tribute to Dan's life, memorial donations may be directed to The MDS Foundation, which supports an ongoing international information network for the research and treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome.
Visitation will be December 16 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on December 17 at 11:00 AM at SS Peter & Paul Church, 36 N. Ellsworth St., Naperville, IL. Interment will follow at SS Peter & Paul Cemetery.