Danny Dunlap

Daniel Joe Dunlap, 60, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2023, at KC Hospice House.

Danny was born August 15, 1963, in Kirkwood, Missouri, the son of CC and Shirley (Broemmer) Dunlap.  The family moved to Branson, Missouri, where Danny graduated from high school.  He attended Southwest Missouri State University for two years, and then transferred to the University of Missouri at Rolla to complete his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.

After graduating from college, Danny moved to Springfield, Missouri where he enjoyed living for 30 years.  He worked as a Civil Engineer for the Greene County Highway Department and Anderson Engineering, both in Springfield.  He enjoyed working with wood, from creating an inlay tray in high school to maintaining a firewood business for many years.  He was happiest with either a Stihl chainsaw or a Craftsman tool in his hand, fixing or building any and everything.  He loved working outside, whether -10 or 100 degrees.  Starting as a teenager, he mowed many, many yards for numerous people and enjoyed doing landscape projects.  While in high school, he worked for White Water theme park in Branson, helping to develop all of their landscape areas.

In 1999, Danny was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease at the young age of 36.  After recovering from a near fatal car accident in 2015, he moved to the Overland Park area to have more support from his family and to receive more advanced Parkinson's care from specialists.   At every care facility he lived at, he enjoyed improving the landscape areas and gardens and helping in any way he could.  While Danny battled the various challenges of Parkinson's disease for over 24 years, he always fought to live every day and to be a productive and contributing person.  He never quit, even when the disease made it impossible for his body to live.   Danny leaves a legacy to the Mayo Clinic Brain Research Center through the APDA to hopefully help find a way to end the cruel effects of Parkinson's Disease.

Danny was preceded in death by both of his parents.  He is survived by his sister, Nancy Strange (Brian); nephew, Christopher Strange(Grace); and niece, Lauren Strange.

A graveside service and burial will be at a later date in Grand View Burial Park in Hannibal, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Parkinson Disease Association at www.apdaparkinson.org/donate. Please select the In Memory Of option.