Herbert Daniel "Dan" Hiatt

Herbert Daniel (Dan) Hiatt (1945 – 2025) never met a walk in the woods he didn't like-or a person he couldn't interest in it. He had a lifelong love of nature and an equal love of sharing it, whether with his wife, children, and grandchildren; his students over decades of teaching; or a complete stranger who happened to pause long enough to listen. If you stood still near Dan for more than a minute, you were likely to walk away knowing something new. Perhaps about a deer. Or turtles.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Dan was also a talented woodworker and an enthusiastic forager. In spring and summer, he could often be found roaming the woods in search of mushrooms and pawpaws, while keeping one hopeful eye out for a rock that might just turn out to be a geode. He loved cooking what he caught and harvested, and he was known for making unusual-and occasionally tasty-jams and jellies from shadblow berries, crabapples, and other woodland finds. Like his siblings, Dan had a legendary sweet tooth and firmly believed that pie deserved recognition as a basic food group.
Dan's curiosity and enthusiasm were contagious. Strangers quickly became friends, usually through stories, facts, and a steady stream of good-natured conversation. These qualities made him a well-liked teacher at IPS and later at Lawrence Township, where he taught earth science to middle and high school students. He also formed meaningful connections as an instructor with the Job Corps at Camp Atterbury and later while teaching GED classes at the Marion County Jail.
Family and faith were central to Dan's life. He married Pamela Jones, whom he met in college, in 1968. Together they raised two daughters, Heather Hiatt and Erin Hiatt (Travis Lytle), and delighted in three grandchildren-Lucas, Olivia, and Noah Hiatt-with whom Dan shared a deep bond. He is survived by all members of his immediate family, as well as his sister, Elena Hiatt Houlihan; his brothers, Tom (Nora) Hiatt and Jerry (Mahilani) Hiatt; nephews, nieces and many cousins, too numerous to mention and too important to overlook.
Dan also found joy in sharing his faith. He was a member of the Community Church at Murphy's Landing in Indianapolis, where his warmth and generosity were well known.
Born in Indianapolis on January 19, 1945, to Elnora Freshley Hiatt and Herbert James Dale Hiatt, Dan graduated from Southport High School in 1963, earned a B.A. from the University of Indianapolis (formerly Indiana Central College) in 1967, and received an M.S. in earth science from IUPUI in 1979. He died at home on December 29, 2025, surrounded by family.
A celebration of Dan's life will be held at 11 a.m. on January 17, 2026, at the Community Church at Murphy's Landing, 7401 S. Harding Street, Indianapolis. All are welcome.
The family invites those who knew Dan to share their memories, photographs, and condolences online, helping to honor his legacy and keep his memory alive.