Danny Frederick Knesel Sr.

Danny “Dan” Frederick Knesel, aka “Uncle Fred,” 76, of Greensboro, NC, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2026. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was born January 15, 1950, to Ernest Knesel and Catherine Maier Knesel, in New Orleans, LA. He was raised in Savannah, GA, where he spent most of his youth playing pranks and antagonizing just about anyone. One of his fondest stories he told was how he used to climb the tree to steal the garbage man’s bagged lunch. He spent his formative years in Savannah and always cherished his time and his friends from there.

In 1964, his family moved to New Jersey, where he attended Dumont High School. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1968 with a degree in mathematics. He went on to become a public school math teacher until he decided school teaching wasn’t for him. In 1973, he started at CPC International, where he began his career in accounting and formed many lifelong friendships, including with Mary, whom he adored. They became good friends and lunch buddies, and he even introduced her to bowling, one of his favorite interests. He also dabbled in golf, tennis, and racquetball. The timing for Dan and Mary wasn’t right back then, but they stayed friends even after he left NJ and moved to NC.

In 1979, he moved to North Carolina following his parents and brother. He worked as a controller at Golden State Foods (GSF), the distributor to McDonald’s, which set off a forever obsession with all things McDonald’s. He would have happily eaten 3 meals a day there, although breakfast remained his favorite. He once claimed he consumed 11,600 breakfast burritos in his lifetime.

In 1982, the stars aligned and Dan and Mary reconnected. By 1984, they married and moved to Greensboro, NC, with her two children. He had always wanted a Georgia Peach, but he found his Jersey Tomato. They had two more children and spent 41 lovely years together. Dan loved planning road trips and summer vacations for the kids. He found real joy in sharing new places and experiences as a family. He also loved to have a good time; whether it was playing arcade games, bowling, a round of putt-putt mini golf, or judging home diving contests for his niece and nephews, Uncle Fred was sure to bring the entertainment.

He retired from GSF after 32 years when the company relocated to Garner, NC. It was then his brother, Ernie, offered him an opportunity to join his clinical lab venture, Select Diagnostics, as Chief Financial Officer. Where Ernie always had the bright idea, Dan stayed rooted in practicality. This usually meant they didn’t always see things eye to eye, and while they may have been opposites in their approach to business, Dan remained Ernie’s trusted confidante for 14 years until his health forced him to retire at the age of 75. Dan spent most of his life dedicated to his career and took every responsibility seriously. He was often dubbed, “Mr. Perfection,” and anyone who worked closely with him was made better by the example he set through his work ethic and integrity.

Above all, Dan found his greatest purpose in providing for his family. He worked tirelessly to ensure his family had everything they needed and more. Dan will always be remembered for his love of family, sense of fun, strong Catholic faith, unwavering integrity, and penchant for indulging his family’s every whim.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Knesel; his children, Erica Nivens and husband Heath, Jimmy Engold, Katie Knesel, and Danny Knesel; his grandchildren, Ethan and Henry Nivens; his sister-in-law, Lynn Knesel; his niece-in-law, Cheryl Knesel; his niece, Tami (Geoff) Stephany and nephew Brad (Jenny) Knesel; and grand-nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, Ernie Knesel, nephew, Eric Knesel, and his beloved dogs, Brownie, Welpe, and Chubbs.

Visitation will be held from 5-7pm, on Thursday, March 26, at Hanes Lineberry, 515 N. Elm St, Greensboro, NC.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Friday, March 27, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd, Greensboro, NC 27410. Private inurnment will take place at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Elms Memory Care at Abbotswood and AuthoraCare Hospice for their care and compassion during Dan’s last months.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Piedmont Triad, Inc. 419 S. Hawthorne Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 https://rmhcpt.org

St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 https://www.stjude.org

Dementia Alliance of North Carolina 9131 Anson Way Suite 206, Raleigh, NC 27615 https://dementianc.org