Daniel Lee Wyatt, 66 of Olney, Illinois, went to his heavenly home on Friday, October 27, 2023, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Illinois.  Daniel was born on March 24, 1957, in Olney, Illinois, the fourth of five children born to William C. and Rosanna M. (Hardig) Wyatt.  

As a child, Daniel faced significant health issues, and had major surgery to correct a cardiac birth defect at the age of seven.  He battled and won against cancer and overcame many other challenges in his life.

Daniel's parents taught him the value of hard work, and to treat other people as he would want to be treated.  He took those values to heart, and he worked hard at numerous jobs.  He did tree work and logging in Oklahoma and Colorado before returning to Illinois.  Once he was back in Olney, he continued to do tree work, which is very dangerous and difficult work.

Daniel, "Dan the Man," loved many things in life.  He never met a steak he didn't enjoy, along with his love of chocolate chip cookies and homemade ice cream.  As a kid, his mother would say she had to hide the chocolate chip cookies she made, or he would eat them all, so that was always a running joke. Laughter was important to Daniel, and he loved to make people laugh and smile with his practical jokes and shenanigans, especially with his children at dinner time.  Daniel also loved to tinker with things, and was great with mechanical things and was always there to help others when something broke.  In addition to these things that he loved, he was also an avid St Louis Cardinals fan, and could always be found in his Cardinal hat watching baseball. Daniel also loved his country, and his father was a World War II veteran. Daniel was a member of the Sons of the American Legion, and he was an active member who would carry flags at parades until his health declined.  Of all these loves, his family was his greatest love, especially his children.  He adored his children, and loved showing off photos of them, and of his entire family.

Daniel is survived by his daughter, Rose (Daniel) Smith of Bristow, Virginia; and Chrissy "Sunshine" (Brian) Stinnett of Rockport, Texas; and son, W. Jay Wyatt of Colorado Springs, Colorado; sisters, Ellen (Arlon) Smith of Olney, Illinois; Linda Robbins of Lawrenceville, Illinois, and Valerie (Tom) Wrausmann of Alton, Illinois; four grandchildren: Corey, Keagan, Justin, and Kelsey and several nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Daniel was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Kelly Dawn Wyatt; brother, Benjamin Wyatt and his wife, Pam Wyatt, and brother-in-law, Gregg Robbins.

Funeral services held at Meyer Funeral Home in Olney, Illinois. Burial in the Crest Haven Memorial Park near Claremont, Illinois.  

Meyer Funeral Home, Olney, IL