Daniel D. Joslin

Dan was born on October 10, 1947 in Rockford, Illinois. He was the first son of Howard and Shirley Joslin. He was brought home to a house that his dad built from recycled lumber from Camp Grant. His brother Drake was born 2 ½ years later. Dan’s school life included playing trumpet in the high school marching band and discovering the Spanish language. He graduated in the top 10 of his high school class and went onto Northern Illinois University. He majored in Spanish with a minor in English.

He met Janice “Jan” Bultas the end of his freshman year. They started the long-standing tradition of Saturday night pizza. Three weeks after college graduation Dan and Jan married and moved to prairie town of Colorado Springs, Colorado. They celebrated 51-years of marriage in June 2020.

Dan’s first teaching job was as an English teacher at Irving Junior High. He taught there for 12 years. In 1982 he earned his degree of Master of Arts in Teaching Southwest Studies. His passion was to teach Spanish. He got the opportunity to do so by accepting a position at Mitchell High School. It came with a catch though. Dan needed to teach one year of Human Relations and Child Development in addition to Spanish. Throughout his career Dan made learning enjoyable by incorporating segments of the variety show, Sabado Gigante, and games into everyday lessons. Several students became like family.

During his last years at Mitchell he taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to students from many different countries. He completed his 32-year career at Mitchell in 2001.

His passion for the Spanish language, teaching and helping others continued long into retirement. He translated documents for traffic engineer firms and assisted ESL students succeed in their studies. He also volunteered for Lutheran Family Services Refugee Settlement Program. His calligraphy works were a staple at many craft fairs. Dan’s creativity was also displayed weekly in the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church bulletins and newsletters. He enjoyed escaping the Colorado cold by going to his second home in Tucson, AZ, keeping up with the latest technology (cellphones, tablets, smart lightbulbs) and of course being a husband, dad and grandpa to seven grandkids.

He is survived by Jan Joslin, Jennimarie Ingram (daughter) and her children Anneka and Juliana, Devin and Tana Joslin (son and daughter-in-law) and their children Sven, Milena, Eliza, Gavin and Gianna and Dan's Brother Drake Joslin.

Services for Dan will be held Saturday, January 09, 2021 at 1pm at Bethel Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Bethel Lutheran Church.