William "Dan" Daniel Eller

Dan passed away peacefully at his home in Denver on October 25, 2023 at the age of 64. He was surrounded by the love of his friends and family who supported him as he courageously endured various illnesses as well as a congenital condition that created pain and ultimately disability. He was stoic and never wanted to be a burden. Dan often expressed his love and appreciation for his friends and family, who are all grateful to have had a part in his life.

Survivors include his sister Sharon and sister Kathy and her husband, Ray, brother Cliff and his wife Vicki, his nephews Ted and John, and niece Vivian. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louise and Ted.

A reception will be held at 3:00 p.m. followed by a memorial celebration of life at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 21 at the Pavilion at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, 7777 W. 29th Ave in Wheat Ridge, CO. His final resting place will be in all our hearts and in the Rocky Mountains. Memorial donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at www.aspca.org or to your preferred organization to benefit animals. Condolences may be offered at OlingerCrownHillMortuary.com

Dan, Danny to his family and childhood friends, was a character. A deep-voiced, Texas-accented character. Although he lived in Colorado for most of his adult life, he was a Texan through and through, by nature and in attitude. He loved music, guns, hunting and animals (although not necessarily in that order!).

And he loved his family. His Mother Louise was always his rock, his protector, his mentor and his best friend. His heart never really recovered from her loss 20 years ago, and we all know he is now with her in Heaven, smoking cigarettes and watching their Dallas Cowboys win the Super Bowl every Sunday (it’s Heaven, after all…!!!). Daddy is up there too, grilling hot dogs, churning homemade ice cream and improving wherever they call home, full of energy and rarely sitting still unless it’s family suppertime when we all gather together around the dinner table.

Being smack in the middle of two full time sisters, Kathy and Sharon, and part time sister Terri and brother Cliff gave his childhood growing up a lot of excitement, drama, and always a lot of love. When he was a little boy, he would make up dumb little kid jokes that were more cute than funny, but Mother would howl in laughter while everyone else just rolled our eyes. For a few years we all piled into our Pontiac station wagon, pulling our Starcraft travel trailer and went on frequent family camping trips, his first taste of outdoor camping that began his lifelong love of the outdoors.

As he grew older, he was a cut up and often got in trouble with his fast cars and various other young man pursuits. After a couple of close calls he migrated to Colorado, where he really grew up and started his adult life. He was a talented guitarist and found success in both performing and in sound engineering. He supported many well-known musical performers with his backing guitar, his well-tuned ear and his ability to make them sound the best they could in live performances. He was in several bands and shared his love of music with his fellow musicians and with young people just learning to play. He was a generous teacher, patient and kind with those less experienced and could always see the potential in the kids who loved music as much as he did and just wanted to learn. He was a consummate salesman and always credited his success in sales to our Daddy, Ted, who taught him to listen and understand his customers above all. He sold professional audio equipment, then consumer electronics and was finally a sales trainer for the Sony Corporation. He mentored younger sales staff and was repeatedly recognized by the company, his peers and his trainees, who will never forget his compassion and dedication to his colleagues and clients.

His hunting obsession started with a little bb gun he got for Christmas at about age 10, which he almost immediately lost due to shooting bb’s through the brush across a creek, not realizing also into someone’s yard, and grazing the leg of some kid playing outside. Eventually he came to be a responsible and successful hunter in the Colorado mountains. His philosophy was “be the elk” as he patiently followed and humanely took the animals that filled his freezer for the winter. His favorite place in the world was up in his regular hunting area near Rabbit Ears Pass in NW Colorado. He hunted with his buddies every year until his illness slowed and finally stopped his yearly Colorado safari.

Danny was always an animal lover and was a remarkable dog trainer. He treasured his pets over the years, cats and dogs - Isaac, Cowboy, Gibson, Buckwheat, Grizwold, Spanky and finally his little Chiweenie Louie, who misses his Daddy every day.

Danny grew up with a collection of ever increasing physical challenges, a congenital condition that eventually created a lot of pain and ultimately disability. He was stoic and never wanted to be a burden, even as he grew more frail in his last months.

Everyone who knew him was charmed by his sense of humor, his generosity and kindness. He touched so many, and he is sorely missed by all who knew him. He would say to us, do not be sad, because he is finally free, not struggling or in pain, and that he will be with us as long as we need him. Dan was a loving brother, brother-in-law and uncle, and a truly good friend. He will be missed and mourned but never forgotten. May he rest in peace surrounded by his two- and four-legged loved ones who have gone before, Texas blues and barbecued brisket.

Rock and roll, sweet brother and friend, we love you.