Dan Richard DeMars

Dan Richard DeMars of Indianapolis, IN, son of Joy Geupel DeMars and Richard Bruce DeMars, was born on March 6, 1943. Seventy-nine years later to the day, Dan departed the physical world on March 6, 2022. Dan was an Indy lifer, developer, preserver, and champion. Raised in the Meridian Kessler neighborhood, he often talked about his walks to School #84 as a “Bingham Bear” from kindergarten through 8th grade, when he also became a proud Eagle Scout. He graduated from Broad Ripple High School before following in the footsteps of his father, grandfathers, great grandfathers, and uncles to Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. He pledged the Sigma Chi Fraternity and would go on to say those were some of the best years of his life. When asked about having been a Sigma Chi, he’d quickly respond with, “still am!” It was during his time at Purdue that he met his wife of 56 years, Sally Shiel DeMars. Dan loved Purdue so much that he purposely took a 5th year “victory lap,” during which he and Sally were married (in 1965) and lived on campus while Dan finished school and Sally worked as a nurse in the local hospital.

Upon graduating from Purdue with a dual degree in Economics and English in 1966, Dan went to work for the family construction business, Geupel DeMars, Inc. Dan had previously worked in the field as a laborer during the summers and grew into his career as a project manager, marketing manager, and executive vice president, ultimately becoming president and chairman in 1992. Over the years, Dan oversaw the development and construction of several well-known Indianapolis landmarks including the Indianapolis Zoo, Children’s Museum, Methodist Hospital, Community Hospital, Indiana Historical Society, Circle Centre Mall, Indianapolis Airport, numerous projects for Eli Lilly, and many others. Dan took immense pride in the way the DeMars family managed their business across three generations. He once stated, “The main thing I will not change is the emphasis my grandfather, uncle, and father placed on integrity and honesty in our operations. They have been able to develop and maintain an impeccable business reputation. I intend to see that we hold to their principles.”

Dan also made his mark in the civic arena, having served in a variety of capacities on many Boards and organizations in the city he so loved, including Community Hospitals of Indiana, United Way of Central Indiana, Funds for Landmark Indianapolis Properties, Indy Partnership, Historic Landmarks Foundation, Indiana State Chamber of Commerce, Arthur Jordan Foundation, President Benjamin Harrison Home Foundation, Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association, Athenaeum Foundation, Purdue Alumni Foundation, Indianapolis Athletic Club, Indianapolis Economic Development Corporation, Indianapolis Downtown Inc., Corporate Community Council and Community Hospitals Foundation, IUPUI Athletic Committee, Indianapolis Humane Society, Board of Waterworks, Stanley K. Lacy Leadership series, Dean’s Advisory Committee for the Purdue School of Science, John Purdue Club, and Young President’s Organization—where he and Sally met lifelong friends and experienced several once-in-a-lifetime trips. He was even a lifetime member of the Titanic Historical Society, as the Titanic was one of his many passions.

Dan and Sally started their family in June of 1968 with the birth of their first child, Christine (Chris) Louise DeMars. Three more children followed with Richard (Rick) Geupel DeMars in 1969, Shiela Ann DeMars Enser in 1972…and then Meghan Joy DeMars Kiger in 1982. Dan often reflected, gratefully, that had it not been for her late arrival, they would have become empty nesters in 1992 instead of 2000. Dan and Sally loved watching their children grow up playing a variety of sports and attending ball games of their favorite teams: the Indianapolis Colts, the Indiana Pacers, the Chicago White Sox and Purdue basketball and football (in fact, Dan passed away the day after Purdue beat Indiana in basketball to end the regular season—a final joyous win). The family enjoyed spending quality time in Pentwater, Michigan at the DeMars family cottage, Windemar. Having spent his childhood summers there water skiing, boating, and bonding with lifelong best friends, Pentwater held a special place in Dan’s heart, and he instilled the same love in his children and grandchildren. One of Dan’s favorite things in life was to go full throttle in his speedboat “Summer Knight” across a calm, glass-like Lake Michigan shorefront.

Beyond his accomplishments, Dan was a simple guy at his core. He loved the little things—an ice-cold Two-Hearted Ale on a hot summer day overlooking Lake Michigan; his daily four-mile run; blaring music in his car with the windows down, singing at the top of his lungs; a morning newspaper read; a classic movie; a non-fiction book; playing the guitar; and on occasion, a good afternoon nap. He loved his kids and grandkids fiercely and was immensely proud to be their Dad/Pappa. Dan’s splurges in life mostly revolved around his love of iconic rock bands as he would travel near and far to see his beloved Rolling Stones—and had seen the Beatles, Beach Boys, Eagles, U2, Journey, and Pink Floyd, to name a few. Dan was “all or nothing” in pretty much everything he did and when he liked something, he REALLY liked it. He once bought a store’s entire inventory of a particular running shoe upon being told it had been discontinued—hey, he knew what he liked. Dan’s biggest claim to fame was “The Story”—which took place in the summer of 1963 at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England—if you knew him, you surely know it.

Dan is preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his loving and devoted wife Sally, his four children, and their families: John, Royce, and Duncan MacArthur (Chris); Jon, Simone, and Haven Enser (Shiela); and Matt, Presley, Tatum, and Bowen Kiger (Meghan); along with his sister Elizabeth DeMars Hammond (Gil) and extended family and the extended Shiel family.

The DeMars family would like to acknowledge and emphatically thank Brookdale Senior Living and Brookdale Hospice, which was home to Dan for the last five years of his life. The care that Dan received there will never be forgotten and we cannot thank the Brookdale staff enough for the love that you showed—you are true heroes. We would also like to thank Joy’s House and Senior Home Companions, which were also a tremendous help to us throughout this journey.

In lieu of flowers, should anyone feel compelled to donate in Dan’s name, there are two organizations that we now hold dear to our hearts: The Alzheimer’s Association and Joy’s House.

At Dan’s request many years ago, a celebration of life will take place in his honor in May 2022, details forthcoming. Rest assured, the playlist will be rockin’.