Delbert "Del" McDaniel

Funeral services for Delbert "Del" McDaniel of Appleton City, Missouri will be 11 a.m. June 8, 2024 at Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Visitation will be 5 - 7 p.m. June 7at the Schowengerdt Chapel. Burial in Myers Cemetery, Appleton City, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, contributions to McDaniel Love Fund at Community First Bank or Butler Church of Christ c/o Jason Wix. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.
Delbert "Del" Duane McDaniel, age 49, of Appleton City, Missouri passed away Friday, May 31, 2024 at his home, surrounded by loved ones, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born December 21, 1974 to Wesley Dean and Mona Marie (Wix) McDaniel in Butler, Missouri.
Del lived his entire childhood in Butler, Missouri and attended both grade and high school at the Church of Christ Training Center. After graduation, he lived in Enid, Oklahoma for two years and then moved to Denver, Colorado to attend college. He attended the Rocky Mountain School of Evangelism from 1995 to 1999 and graduated with an associates in sacred literature. Del heard about a beautiful young woman that had recently moved to his hometown and decided that he needed to come back to Butler and see what she was all about. Five months later they were engaged to be married.
Del married Courtney on December 4, 1999. She was the absolute love of his life. They worked hard, cleared a plot on 49 acres of land and put a house on it. The couple were married eleven months when they welcomed their first daughter, Krissy, into the world in November 2000 and when she was six weeks old they moved into their new country home. They welcomed Dakota in August 2002, Britney in July 2004, Shelby in August 2005, and Colton in July 2007. Nothing mattered more to him than his beautiful wife and their children. Along the way many nephews and nieces were born and Del loved every one of them as his own. He eventually became known as "Uncle Mac" which came from a nickname, Mac, that Courtney gave him and called him often.
Del was an ornery child, teen and adult! In his younger years he enjoyed playing with cousins, going to camp as a teenager and traveling on a bus to Wyoming to visit family. He started out mowing lawns and eventually got his first "real" job at McDonald's and loved both. He had many jobs through the years including mine work, janitorial, construction, landscaping, car detailing – but his last and favorite job was head Sexton at Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler. He loved going to work every day, taking extreme pride in his work and making the cemetery look beautiful. Working for the City of Butler was his most satisfying job and he wanted Mike Hawks recognized as an amazing employee and friend. Mike sacrificed so much during Del's treatments and sick days and Del wanted him to be honored for that. He also volunteered for the Butler Civil Defense and always supported the fire department.
Del could often be found improving his farm and working on his many projects. He loved camping, homemade ice cream, rodeos, Independence Day, deer hunting, cookouts, church rallies and camps, Christmas and above all his family, friends and spreading the Gospel. The saying "Never met a stranger" fit him perfectly. He loved people and he loved his Savior. Del always wanted to talk about Jesus and the difference He had made in his life. He loved attending church at the Butler Church of Christ and instilled that same love in his children. His family was his everything and they loved him dearly. Courtney took excellent care of him always, especially in his last days. Del couldn't wait to become a grandpa and was ecstatic when his oldest daughter and her husband announced the coming of his first "earth" grandchild later this year. He is and will always be dearly loved and missed.
Del is survived by his wife, Courtney Lin McDaniel of the home; five children, Krissy Rhea and husband Keenan of Overland Park, Kansas, Dakota McDaniel of Butler, Missouri, Britney McDaniel, Shelby McDaniel and Colton McDaniel all of the home; his parents, Wesley and Mona McDaniel of Butler, Missouri; his parents-in-law, William and Sandra McLaughlin of Butler, Missouri; two siblings, Jonathan McDaniel of Kansas City, Missouri and Janice Martinez and husband Lewis of Broomfield, Colorado; several in-laws, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Zion Rain Rhea; his grandparents; an uncle, John Harold; and a great-uncle, Wayne Reimer.