Daniel Dippel lived large. Daniel was a larger than life personality who lived life to the fullest.  He did nothing halfway and was an enthusiastic participant in all things he took on.  Cancer took him too soon, but his memory lives on.

Daniel loved his family.  He was a wonderful husband, father, son and brother.  Daniel loved his son Grayson with his whole heart and would endure great hardships in order to extend whatever time he had with him.  The day Grayson was born was the day his Dad’s heart grew two sizes too big.

Daniel loved the outdoors.  His favorite vacation place was the beach – any beach and he would rather be fishing than almost anything else.  His favorite memories were of the many fishing trips to the Texas coast he took with his brothers and their close group of friends.

Daniel loved to work with his hands.  His proudest accomplishment was the complete restoration of a late 1800s farmhouse which became our family home.

Daniel loved to help people.  He was a generous man with a big soft heart.  He always carried extra food in his truck to give to the homeless and loved to volunteer at the Salvation Army soup kitchen.

Daniel loved to be right.  He could argue with a post and would wear anyone down with his intellect, wit and sheer stubbornness.

Daniel loved to laugh.  His laugh and smile could light up a room.  He was boisterous and silly and laughed at himself more often than anything else.  His favorite saying was “If you’re not having a good time it’s your own damn fault” – and that quote completely captures his approach to life.

Daniel’s resilience in the face of a cancer diagnosis was an inspiration to all of us and I can’t think of a more fitting way to honor his memory than by supporting the Soaring Spirits Resilience Center.