Daniel Kerston "Dan" McDermott

1951 - 2016

Daniel "Dan" Kerston McDermott 1951—2016
Daniel "Dan" Kerston McDermott, 64, passed on to eternal life on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, in his home in Loves Park. Dan was born to Dolores and Gerald McDermott on October 22, 1951, in Dubuque, Iowa, the second of four children. He completed grade school at St. Patrick's School in Rockford before graduating from Boylan High School in May 1969. Dan and his family moved to Rockford in 1958, and he was very active in sports, receiving the St. Patrick's School Athletic Merit Award for playing 5th and 6th grade football undefeated and unscored upon, but baseball was his best sport, representing Rockford in the Junior World Series in August 1964. He played on the Rockford National League Junior Pony All-Stars. The following year they made a second trip to the World Series. After high school Dan completed a course at RVC before attending the University of Texas in El Paso. He was employed at Elco Industries, Inc., Quaker Oats and Green Giant. He began fishing with Dad and Grandpa McDermott when he was about 4 years old and it became a life-long passion right up to the time of his death. He loved to fish with his brothers, Mike and Kevin and was dubbed "The Walleye Wizard" by Mike. We think he may be fishing with the great fisherman, Simon Peter, in Heaven, perhaps giving him some pointers! He suffered with serious health issues for much of his life, but persevered and stayed loving and kind. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Francis "Bud" McDermott and Marcella McDermott, and maternal grandparents, Louis Tinneas Olson and Cora Olson. He is also preceded by numerous aunts and uncles and his two first cousins, the Peterson boys. He leaves to grieve his loving parents, Dolores and Gerald McDermott, brothers, Mike (Barb) McDermott, Kevin (Cathy) McDermott; and sister, Sue (John) Mroz; nephews, Michael (Natalie), Joe (Amber), and Steve (Jennifer) McDermott, Tyler Atchley, Dan (Rachel) Mroz, and Luke McDermott; nieces Amie (Toru) Nogami, Theresa McDermott, Kelly (Ron) Swanson, Sarah McDermott, Emily McDermott and Tasha (Alex LaSala) Atchley; and 16 great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2016, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd, Rockford, with Reverend Dr. Michael McDermott, Dan's nephew, officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2016, until time of service. Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Special thanks to Dave Gomel and the staff at Rosecrance Health Network for all of their support through the years. Memorials may be made in Dan's name to Rosecrance Health Network, 1021 N. Mulford Rd. Rockford. Express online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.