Daniel "Dan" Thomas Berdel, Sr.

It is with deep sadness that the family of Daniel “Dan” Thomas Berdel Sr, 65, of Etters, Pennsylvania announces his sudden passing on Tuesday July 14th, 2026. He was surrounded by his loving family and kept comfortable by the patient staff of Harrisburg Hospital

Dan was born on December 6th, 1960 in Philadelphia to Thomas Berdel and Regina Kessler. There he graduated from Frankford High School and later attended Drexel University where he graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. After college, Dan moved with his first wife to central Pennsylvania to begin his career with Appleton papers and his family with the birth of his first son Dan Jr and later Jeff. He eventually remarried to Elizabeth Berdel and enjoyed 23 years of love and life with her. Dan continued his engineering career providing quality assurance for several other companies before retiring from Dorman Products in 2024.

From Philly to Central PA, Dan has touched the lives and became great friends with many people. As an avid Philadelphia sports fan, he would be quick to remind anyone who cheered for rival teams who he thought was the best and how to spell Eagles. Family and lifelong friends will remember spending time with Dan attending live games or watching them in their favorite bar over some hot wings and a couple drinks. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish, boat, and hunt. From the fields, woods, and waters of Pennsylvania to the shores of New Jersey and Washington state, Dan loved to get out but most of all he loved to share that time with family and friends. His sons fondly look back on their memories with him such as playing street hockey, trout fishing on opening day with all the usual characters, and seeing their father on the sidelines or in the stands for every one of their games. His wife will remember their travels to visit family, exploring and sharing experiences in Italy, and enjoying warm beaches, either together or with their granddaughters with whom they shared their love and active life. Dan will also be remembered for all that he has given back. He spent most of his sons’ young life as a baseball and football coach and commissioner. He donated financially to Saint Judes and Shriners Children’s, was a social member of many groups, and was a proud blood donor who never missed a chance to donate and encouraged others to do so as well.

To his immediate family, Dan may be remembered the most as a loving grandfather to three special girls who profoundly changed his life. He relished any moment he could spend with them; whether during sleepovers with the girls giving him makeovers he’d rather his friends never see, vacations to the beach he would plan yearly, or simply watching them for a few hours to help out however he could. Dan found a new passion in his life that he might even miss an Eagles game for and a love in his life that he might even share his beloved Tastycake desserts with.

He is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth Sariano Berdel; sons Dan Jr (Danielle), Jeff (Nicole); stepsons Dan Wolf (Lisa), and Andy Wolf (Jessica); father Thomas Berdel (Reta); mother Regina Kessler; sisters Dawn Losito (Jim), Donna Lukas; and most importantly, granddaughters Magdalyn Berdel, Aubree Wolf, and Alaina Wolf.

An intimate funeral service will be held for immediate family members. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date that will be open to family and his many friends