Daniel Leon Neidlinger

Daniel Leon Neidlinger of Phoenix passed away January 29th at the age of 83. He was born in Plymouth, Indiana September 19th, 1937, oldest of two boys to Lucile Baseler Neidlinger and Norbert John Neidlinger. His family moved to Auburn, Indiana where Dan excelled in academics, graduating valedictorian of Auburn High School, class of 1955. Dan went on to Purdue University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Industrial Management. Along with their mother, Susan Neidlinger, Dan had two daughters, Beth and Julie and the family moved to Arizona in 1969. Dan eventually went onto to be a Certified Public Accountant in Arizona and established his consulting practice in 1974 after ten years of consulting experience with an international CPA firm. Dan specialized in utility rate economics and retired in 2018 after 45 years as President of Neidlinger and Associates.

Dan had a sharp mind and love of learning. He learned to play guitar in high school and carried that love throughout his life, playing for many audiences throughout the Phoenix area. He was also an avid deep-sea fisherman. He shared his love of fishing with his daughters and grandchildren. He went on numerous fishing trips from Costa Rica to Florida but his favorite place to fish was Baja, Mexico. He made many good friends on his bi-yearly trips to Mexico. Dan also loved traveling and learning about the history of the places he traveled. He went on many adventures with the love of his life, his mate for over 20 years, Joanie. Their travels were many and varied. Dan and Joanie took many cruises from Cape Horn in South America to the Panama Canal, the Amazon River, visits to Europe, Russia and The Great Wall of China…to name a few. He also had an appreciation for World War II history and went on a “Band of Brothers” tour of Normandy and The Eagle’s Nest, Germany. One of his favorite visits was to Neidlingen, Germany, a municipality in what was formerly known as Bavaria. This is the ancestral home from which our last name was derived. He wryly noted that he could not locate even one “Neidlinger” in town on that trip, but the great German beer made up for it! Dan loved his family. He was a loving, supportive father to his daughters, a kind, loving Papa Dan to his grandkids and a compassionate and loving mate to Joanie for over 20 years.

Dan is preceded in death by his loving mate, Joanie Golis and his brother, Tom Neidlinger (Audrey). He is survived by his two daughters, Beth Neidlinger Murphy, and Julie Neidlinger Hart (John), four grandchildren, (Megan and Laura Murphy, John and Jim Hart) and his two nephews Marc Neidlinger and Micah Neidlinger. He is also survived by two step-daughters, Debbie Yordt (Jay) and Susan Robertson, step-grandsons, (Damon and Dallas Powell) and many other step-grandchildren. Due to current circumstances we will be having a celebration of life at a later date in Phoenix.