Donald McDaniel

Donald R. McDaniel (1953-2025) of Churubusco was born to mother Mildred and father Richard McDaniel on October 12, 1953, in Toledo, Ohio. Affectionately known as Donnie by his friends and family growing up, Don was an Eagle Scout. He graduated from Elmhurst High School in 1971 and took classes at IPFW for many years. He married his wife, Marlene, in 1976, and they had many adventures. They enjoyed traveling together, camping, and going to John Denver and Jimmy Buffett concerts. They had two children, Amanda and Corey.

In 2016, Don retired from Parkview Hospital, where he worked in the print shop for more than 35 years. He was a lifelong artist, focusing on woodcarving and woodworking for most of his life, but was never afraid to take up a new hobby, such as watercolor, in his retirement. He was a Bob Ross fan. Don could frequently be found carving at art shows in the Fort Wayne area during the summers, and leaned heavily into his "wizardly" appearance. He could always be found in the middle of a book, usually science fiction or fantasy. He loved to play computer games and always took time to watch a sunset, a campfire, or the birds feeding at the window. He was always larger than life, and enjoyed his grandchildren, being in nature, and puttering around his woodshop.

Don was preceded in death by his son Corey in 2014 and, after 48 years of marriage, by his wife Marlene in 2025. His father passed in 2001, and his mother passed in 2022.

Don passed peacefully after an extended illness at 11:05 pm on Monday, December 29, in his daughter's home, surrounded by his family.

Surviving are daughter, Amanda (Nathaniel) Brundige; grandchildren, Maya and Liliana (Brake), and Violet and Raven (Brundige), of Fort Wayne; brother, Mac McDaniel, of Monroeville; and many other extended family members. His strength, wisdom, conversational tangents, humor, and rib-crushing hugs will be missed.

Funeral services will be on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Trinity English Lutheran Church, 450 West Washington Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, with calling two hours prior to services.

Burial at Eel River Cemetery.