Daniel T. Desmond Jr.

Daniel T. Desmond Jr. passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on March 12th, 2023. He was born on December 21st, 1942 in Chicago, IL to Daniel and Edith Desmond.
He is survived by his wife Joanne Desmond, his children Daniel (Christine) Desmond, Timothy (Tomomi) Desmond, Michael (Holly) Desmond, Eric Desmond, Jennifer (Timothy) Gillespie and Diane (Scott) Kaiser, his grandchildren Brett (Nicole), Troy (Megan), Courtney (Steven), Logan, Michael, Nicholas, Jason, Makenzie, Abram, Kendall, Mirabel, Timothy Jr, Connor, Noah, Caleb, Evan, William and Arden, and his great grandchildren Cassidy and Baby Desmond.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Allan Desmond and his sister Denise Desmond.
Born in Chicago, Dan spent his formative years at Catholic grade schools, mostly tied to a chair by the nuns so he would stay in his desk. Dan himself would admit that the only way he passed grammar school was because his mother baked rum cakes for the nuns.
Upon graduating from St Gregory the Great in 1961, he enlisted in the Marines. After an honorable discharge in 1966, he used the skills he learned in the service to earn an A&P license (aircraft mechanic license). This would eventually lead to an impressive 45 year career as an aircraft mechanic with United Airlines.
Dan made friends with anyone and everyone. He spent his adult life with friends he had made at school, work and the neighborhood. There is no doubt those friends, relatives and numerous pets who had gone before him welcomed him into Heaven with open arms.
To know Dan was to love him. And to know Dan, was to know his passions in life were, in no particular order: Chicago Bears, live music (especially the Beatles), classic cars, Miller Lite, United States Marine Corps, airplanes and being able to find a suitable Seinfeld quote to fit any situation. No one ever believed his age because he was so much younger and cooler than what the calendar said.
You could always count on Dan to tell you the type of airplane flying overhead, what cover band was going to be at which local suburban summer carnival, and the exact reason for any weird sounds your car made.
Dan's hobbies of being front row at a live rock concert, around a backyard bonfire with a cold beer in hand, tooling around in the garage on his Mustang, or watching the Bears play at Soldier Field were made that much sweeter when in the company of his kids and grandkids. In his own words, "my family time with my kids and grandkids makes me very happy and proud and it also makes me feel younger."
Well, Dan, we all certainly felt happy and proud to have known you. Until we meet again. BEAR DOWN!
A visitation will take place from 3:00pm to 8:00pm on Thursday, March 16th, 2023 at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Prayers will begin at 10:15am on Friday, March 17th, 2023 at the funeral home, proceeding to St. Mary Parish, 10 N. Buffalo Grove Rd. Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 for a Funeral Mass at 11:00am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions would be appreciated for the Wounded Warrior Project. PO Box 758517, Topeka, AR 66675 or https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/default.aspx?tsid=7792
Funeral Information and condolences can be given at www.GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.