Daniel Lee Salem

Dan the Man, Danny, Founder of the feast, Dad, Poppy, son, husband, friend, brother, but his favorite name of all was Papa, was born on February 2,1946 in Kansas City, Kansas to Clara and Norman Salum.

Dan had an incredibly kind soul and vibrant personality. He treated everyone with the same respect whether you were a major business owner or the guy mowing the lawn. His positivity was infectious and his love was true to the core for God, his family, and hundreds of friends.

He was raised in the Lutheran church and attended Christian school where he was raised in Fresno, CA, where he loved his walk to school daily picking fruit from the trees. He was the baby boy of 5 children. He loved the beach, sports, and played football and basketball. But his real love was dancing. He and his baby sister, whom also used to dress him like a girl, and were thought to be twins, even won dancing competitions together.

As a teenager, the family moved back to Kansas City and one evening when he and a friend were out, he saw the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen at the Town Topic burger joint. He tried to get her number and when she refused, he then asked her friend who eventually gave it to him. He would say It was love at first sight. Danny, as she called him, and Ging, as he called her, were married on March 17, 1965. They had two daughters referred to as the girls. Their first home was in Kansas City Mo, so they could be close to their jobs. However, when the girls were little, Danny decided to take on a second job so that Ginger could raise the girls and be a homemaker. His favorite thing about Ginger being a homemaker was her cooking. Every day was a feast.

Along with their two daughters, together they helped raise two boys and a daughter, his beloved brother Ronnie’s children. With the boys being boys, they were sent to KC every summer on the greyhound bus to get some love and discipline. To have a father figure in their lives. Every summer Danny and Ginger would load all 4 kids up and take the money they had saved all year, drive the boys back to Colorado, and give everyone a summer vacation spent at the Garden of the Gods, Cave of the winds, and his favorite Casa Bonita. He worked two jobs to be able to provide for all the children. And they became the sons (Donnie and Billy) who he had always wanted, along with a bonus daughter (Tracy) whom he loved like his own as well. He also held a very special place in his heart for another daughter Danielle, born to the extended family years later.

Danny was also the beloved neighborhood Dad to many. From loading all the kids up in the back of his truck and taking them to Creamy Cones, to teaching many how to ride their bikes, hide and seek, and playing basketball in the driveway, he loved them and treated them all like his own.

Danny worked for Merchants delivery service delivering furniture and that’s where he met his best friend of 60 years Roger, who became another brother. He then did what he did best and became a salesman. Working for Uniway, he won several trophies for salesman of the year. Then when their youngest daughter was in high school, they opened their beloved California Tan. Working along side each other making a successful business was a joy in his life. Ginger then went to work for the KC Royals and Danny opened up Branson Today, his favorite business. He traveled back and forth to Branson, made numerous rest of his life friends, and had countless weekends and made priceless memories with his family there.

After 50 years of marriage and 14 months of taking care of her, his beloved Ging passed away in 2015. He was never the same.

However, he did the most amazing job taking on his most beloved role of being both parents/grandparents to his daughters and grandchildren. Father, best friend, provider, supporter, and protector are just a few words to describe our father. The greatest ever. However, they always said, we love you girls, but there is no love like our grandchildren. Papa, as they all called him was the GOAT.

At every game, concert, and competition he could be at, he helped raise all 5. From changing diapers, to giving rides, to being their biggest supporter, they were Blessed with the BEST.

Dan Salem will be Deeply and sorely missed by his entire family, whom he loved so deeply, friends, neighbors, and all who knew him. He had a profound impact on many. He was the first to help in any way he could. He always had the mentality of the glass is half full and always spoke the words his mother taught him from the Bible, there is always hope. He was the guy that would give you the coat off his back. He was asked at a gas station one time for money from a stranger and instead filled their gas tank and bought them a meal. He donated to the City Union Mission and the St Jude’s children’s hospital every year.

He is proceeded in death by his parents, three of his siblings, his best friend Roger, numerous other close friends and neighbors, his great nephew Kyson, and his beloved Ginger. His beloved dogs Rockie and Vader. We rest knowing he is with our Heavenly Father whom he loved so much and his beloved Ging.

He leaves behind his daughter Debbie Whitmore (husband Kevin) of Lee’s Summit, daughter Cindy Carmack of Kansas City, former son n law Pete Carmack of Lee’s Summit (Mackenzie), grandchildren Sean and Jessica Whitmore, Peter, Daniel, and Elizabeth Carmack. Donnie Salum (wife Missy) Donnie, Abbie, Isabelle, Billy Salum (wife Tina) Justin (wife Rachel) Jaxson, Jett, Jameson, Taryn Salum, son Liam, Tracy Salum, sons, Zach Salum and family and Eystin Salum. His sister Patricia Salum of Santa Cruz, CA, niece Maura, son Jaden, nephew Ronnie and family, beloved niece Leslie Stewart (his monkey) daughter Abella and Numerous other beloved additional nieces and nephews, family members, friends, and neighbors whom he all loved and impacted.

In lieu of flowers donations are being asked to be made to the KC Pet project and St Jude’s Children's Hospital.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at The Summit Church

3381 NW Chipman Road

Lee’s Summit, MO 64081

Visitation 2:00 pm

Celebration service 3:00 pm

Burial Monday, December 8, 2025 at 12:00 pm.

Chapel Hills Memorial Gardens

701 N 94th St, Kansas City, KS 66112

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you. Until we meet again.