It doesn’t feel real to me that he is gone. It’s so surreal and I feel like he is going to walk through the door and say, “Got you guys”, because that is something he would do. There was never a dull moment with my dad. Every time he would be around, I knew there would be some form of entertainment and humor. To say he was a character is so generic, because there is seriously no one in the world like him. He lit up a room and was so selfless and positive. He was my rock and whenever he was around I knew I was safe. When my brothers and I were little, he would always push us to do scary things that made us uncomfortable and to enjoy every minute of life. Every dime he had, he spent on fun trips and anything to make his kids happy. I remember going on the American River down the middle fork when I was about 12 years old. The tour guy strongly recommended that my little brother, Sean, and I didn’t go because it was dangerous. Did that stop my dad you ask, it most definitely didn’t. He looked at the tour guide and told him to strap some helmets on us and that we would be fine. He was right, I was terrified for my life and remember it until this day, but conquering that river has made me the person I am today. He would take us cliff jumping, push us down waterfalls (with a life jacket, of course), make us have paintball wars on the ranch, go into restricted areas when it strongly suggested not to enter, and many more dangerous things dads normally wouldn’t let their kids do. Dad would always take us on trips even though money was tight. We have so many good memories that I think he enjoyed even more than us. He was a big kid that never grew up and enjoyed all aspects of life. What others pass by and take for granted, we take in and love because of our dad. He was always the life of the party and brought an ice chest of Pacificos or Don Julio oranges and cinnamon wherever he went. However, he was a wildcard and unpredictable and would not tell anyone he was coming and then just show up. He found me a few times in Yosemite without any reception and stayed and camped with us. He tripped all of my friends out in a good way, by telling vulgar stories with a joint in one hand a Pacifico in the other. He doesn’t have any filters, so whatever he is thinking in that crazy head of his, comes right out of his mouth. A lot of my favorite memories are camping with him in Yosemite and every summer on the ranch in Oregon. Growing up with him as a dad has been far from boring, I am surprised how many times he has cheated death and ending up in jail and made it this long. He never wanted to get old and unable to take care of himself. He actually told my brothers and I to take him outside and shoot him if he was ever in that condition. The way he wanted to go was hauling ass on his Harley. I feel like he was taken too soon, but I know the life of the party will always live on through all of the stories his loved ones have of him. There are too many stories to tell, and every single one sounds right out of a comedy, because my dad was always doing something unheard of. We are so fortunate to have so many hilarious and wonderful memories with Dan the Man. He has touched so many lives and left an imprint on so many hearts. He would give you the shirt off his back and be there for you in a second if you asked. As fun and hilarious as he was he was also the most selfless and caring man.
He moved to Oregon and took care of my grandpa’s ranch, the ranch means so much to him. He built new fences and fixed it all up; his heart and soul was put into the ranch and his favorite spot was by the river in a hammock. As I sit here writing this on my grandpa and dad’s ranch, I feel my dad’s presence; this is where he wants to be. He also took care of my grandma and her husband, Paul, as their health issues were very severe. When my grandma passed he took care of her place because Paul couldn’t. As fun as he was, he was also so selfless and loved so deeply; I wish we all could have a heart as big as his. He never boasted about how much he did for his mom, dad, and Paul, but it never went unnoticed. He would also donate his spare time to helping take care of Cat, his girlfriend’s, horses, along with singing in the choir every Sunday at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Shady Cove, spending time at the Moose Lodge as a “brother” volunteering to cook, and of course making his appearance at Lucky’s bar. He was such a good cook; when he would show up in Yosemite he would bring his dutch oven and cook gourmet meals for us (Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Chicken Finadene, Breakfast Burritos and much more delicious meals you would never eat at home let alone camping). I remember growing up he would get mad at my mom when she would make hamburger helper and he would go out and buy steak and make a delicious meal. He was so handy, he would always tell me, “I can fix anything, come on now”. I loved all of his sayings and I feel like we should keep them all going; “Damnit to hell”, “Shiiiitt, come on now”, “Oh right on, right on”, “What, are you kidding me”, “You better believe it”. His laugh was so infectious and I still can hear it, and his smile is so big his eyes would smile too. I still feel like he’s here now and can feel him keeping me calm. I know he wouldn’t want any of us to be sad, instead he would want us keeping the party going with a Pacifico in hand. With all of that said, and I could honestly write a book on my dad, but want to make this short, rest in paradise to the most selfless, most caring, most funny incredible man, my motivation to be better, the one who taught me to be strong and not care about money but care about living life and loving others, always making an impression, never having one mean thing said about him, a character, a big kid, the most amazing person in the world, my dad Dan the Man. Please look over us, you were taken too soon but taken the way you wanted hauling ass on your Harley, life isn't fair and I wish we had more time. Everyone should hug their loved ones and never take a moment for granted. Live in the now and love unconditionally like my dad did. Miss and love you so much dad. I hope we all will meet again, I can't stand thinking we won't, so I truly believe we will. I love you.
It's hard to cope with the loss of a loved one when it isn't expected... There is a picture I saw of Dad and Sarah on the phone with me and Annie while they were in Yosemite, just a couple weeks ago, this was actually the last time I ever talked with my dad. To be honest, we were at the grocery store and were itching to get off the phone to keep shopping... If I knew this was the last time, I would have said so much more to him that I have been meaning to say... I will forever long for that chance that I'll never get.
Dan came into my life when I was six years old and was immediately the present father figure that I needed. He raised me like I was his own blood and taught me how to do manly things like how to fish, or how to flush out a gopher and stomp on his head! He was always one of the handiest guys that I know and that dude could fix literally anything. You know how people always say, “Hey, I got a guy for that!” Well Dan was that guy in some capacity to everyone who knew him. He spent countless hours designing with great detail this barn he always wanted to build at our old house and I used to get so excited to hear him get so excited talking about all the awesome shit he wanted to do with it!!!
While he didn’t get to build that particular barn he did get to build one with his father on their ranch in Oregon, which he loved so much. He got to live his dreams of retiring up in Oregon and living on that ranch and I will always be grateful that he got to do that even though it meant him living farther away. It never stopped him from making it to the important stuff and we knew if we ever needed him that he would be there. When I graduated high school he gave me a card (which was weird because he was never a big card guy) and he told me how I was his son and there was no “step” necessary. He had a huge part in making me that man that I am and I will always be grateful and cherish the time that we had together. He also gave me the best brother and sister a guy could ask for so for that I will raise an ice cold Pacifico and thank him from the bottom of my heart for all he did for me. I love you Dad.
Love,
Jonathan Jordan
We will miss his infectious smile, his positivity, his relentless search for adventure, his love for life and for everyone willing to share with him the way he sees the world. He never grew up, that little scoundrel, and neither should anyone. These are the things I promise I will carry on for him as his son, and teach my kids one day.
You managed to bless the lives of every single person you've ever met, Dad. Hopefully you rubbed off on us at least a little bit.
A man never concerned with death because of his devotion to living his life, I am confident my dad would have not had it any other way than to go out hauling ass on his Harley on a beautiful night ride:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a ride!'" -Hunter S. Thompson
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