Denise D'Ann Daup

Denise D'Ann Daup was born on April 30, 1953 to Richard (Dick) and Anna Lorraine (Tootsie) Daup in Omaha Nebraska. She died on March 1, 2021 in Fishers, Indiana after a courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Denise attended Sacred Heart Academy grade school in Papillion, NE and graduated from Ryan High School in Omaha, NE in 1971. She earned her B.A. in Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. She went on to get her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the Department of Educational Psychology & Measurement at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May of 1980. Denise continued her education with the Gestalt Institute of Phoenix in 1990 with theory and therapy methods to assist her in her years of dedicated service to others. She worked as a Bereavement Counselor at Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ, a Group Facilitator at The Wellness Center, a Research Associate at Biomedical Stress Research, Counselor at Planned Parenthood of Northern and Central Arizona, a Counselor for the Rape and Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Lincoln, NE. Denise was also involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona.

Denise opened her private practice, Willow Counseling Center in Tempe, AZ in 1990 to 2019 counseling individuals, couples, families and groups. She led mindfulness-based stress reduction training, program development and marketing. Her love for helping others and trying to make the world a better place was evident in her career.

Denise was an avid athlete. She was recruited at the age of 16 to play for the Omaha Royals Woman's fast-pitch softball team, where she played shortstop and later 2nd base. She played point guard on the UNL woman's basketball team. Her hobbies were golf, tennis, cycling and hiking. Denise hiked the Grand Canyon several times and many of the mountain ranges in AZ. She walked daily and was usually accompanied by her two dogs, Ringo and Willow, her wide brimmed hat and a walking stick.

Denise also had a theatrical side. While attending Ryan High School, Denise tried out for the play of "Hello Dolly" and was awarded the role of Mrs. Irene Molloy the hat shop owner by a Broadway producer.

Denise had a love of reading, especially poetry, she always had a book in her hand. She also wrote poetry and short stories. Denise was very artistic as she made collage pictures and jewelry. She was talented in so many ways.

Denise is proceeded in death by her parents Richard and Anna Lorraine Daup, grandparents Peter and Anna Umatum, John and Clara Daup, many aunts and uncles. She is survived by her siblings; Kandy Kritenbrink (Jerry), Rick Daup (Kathy), Lisa Erxleben (Dan), many nieces and nephews and her friends and special groups in AZ.

A private burial for Denise and her mother, who passed away on November 22, 2020 will be held on Saturday, July 3, 2021 at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha, NE.

Memorials may be made to the family, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Pancreatic Cancer Research Foundation.

“This is our purpose:

to make as meaningful as possible

this life that has been bestowed upon us…

to live in such a way

that we may be proud of ourselves,

to act in such a way

that some part of us lives on.”

-Oswald Spengler, German Philosopher-_