Pasquale “Pat” Danna, Jr.

Pasquale “Pat” Danna, Jr., age 87 of Dubuque, Iowa, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, completed his earthly journey on August 21, 2019 at Dubuque Specialty Care in Dubuque, with his loving family by his side.  To honor Pat’s life, a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of the Resurrection, 4300 Asbury Road, Dubuque, Iowa, 52002, with Rev. Thomas Heathershaw officiating.  Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.  The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Pat’s family.

 

Pat was born on November 21, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, 1 of 8 children to Pasquale and Gerlanda (Piro) Danna, Sr.  He would begin his full and abundant life being raised within a family who was continually driven to always be their best in their personal, professional and public lives.  Pat eventually found his soul-mate, Nancy Baiardo, and the two were blessed to spend 58 wonderful years together, as well as raise 2 perfectly adored children along the way.  Pat’s first love was always at home and all of his successes throughout his life were directly attributed to his desire to provide a comfortable, secure and promising life for his family.  Pat was an electrical engineer by trade and devoted over 45 years of his working career to Western Electric in Chicago before retiring in 1996.  He gladly offered them a few more years after retirement when they asked him to help lead a project occurring in Atlanta, Georgia.  After completing his final mission with the company, Pat and Nancy discovered the opportunity to build their dream home in the hills of Hiawassee, Georgia.  They enjoyed a decade of relaxing and enjoying life on their own terms and at their own speed, until health issues sadly brought them back to the mid-west to be closer to family.   

 

Pat was so much more than a loving husband, father and stellar employee though; he was also a man who was always on the move enjoying some of the more honest and simple pleasures in life.  Hunting and fishing were clearly top on the list as he made regular trips around Illinois, Wisconsin and up into Canada to do his part to help control the fish, deer, duck and pheasant populations in all 3.  When he wasn’t out on the hunt, you could easily find him tinkering in the basement creating new fishing jigs, or reloading shells for the hunting club.  He was also relentlessly devoted to the Knights of Columbus and obtaining his 4th degree was a badge of honor Pat always held true to in his daily life.  Also, being a perfectionist at heart, Pat’s pride and joy was always on display for all to see in his yard and his meticulously kept landscaping.  Beware and fair warning to any weed which may mistakenly assume that Pat’s keen eye wouldn’t catch it upon its immediate emergence.  And finally, music.  Pat was a fan of all thing’s opera, but even a little old country with Hank Williams, or his favorite Sunday album of military marches with bagpipers on parade could also fill the silent void in his day.  Pat was truly a self-driven and multi-layered man over his 87 years and the legacy he leaves behind is one of exceptional excellence in all that you do and say.  We will miss Pat deeply and dearly, but we are forever grateful that he and Nancy have discovered one another’s company again and that he now has someone to share his potato chips with for all of eternity.  Thank you, Pat, for all of the productive puttering you found yourself enjoying while you were walking among us and may your rewards be true, sweet and beyond measure as you’ve clearly earned throughout your earthly journey.   

 

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Pat include,

 

his 2 children,

Anthony (Jodi) Danna,

and Susan (Scott) Nadeau;

 

his 4 grandchildren,

Jeffrey (Amy Alderman) Danna,

Andrew Danna,

Bradley (Amanda) Nadeau,

and Michael (Allison) Nadeau;

 

his 2 great-grandchildren,

Fang Fang Alderman Danna,

and Ryan Michael Nadeau;

 

his 2 sisters,

Josephine Danna,

and Mary Danna;

 

along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, friends and neighbors.

 

Pat was preceded in death by his parents; his beautiful bride, Nancy (Baiardo) Danna in 2015; his 2 brothers, Pasqualino Danna in infancy and Tony Danna; and his 3 sisters, Julia (Charles) Biardo, Jennie Danna and Rose Danna.

 

Pat’s family would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to all of his friends and neighbors at Sunset Park Place who welcomed him with open arms, along with the doctors, nurses and staff at Dubuque Specialty Care and Hospice of Dubuque for all of their comforting and compassionate care of Pat, and his family, throughout the last week.

 

Online condolences may be shared with Pat’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com

Funeral Mass of Christian Burial

The Church of the Resurrection
4300 Asbury Road, Dubuque, Iowa, 52002
August 24th, 2019 at 10:30 AM

Cemetery Committal

Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery
1400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, Illinois, 60162
August 26th, 2019 at 11:00 AM

2 comments on “Pasquale “Pat” Danna, Jr.
  1. Karen Kremer says:

    Sending our sympathy.
    Pasquale was such a WONDERFUL man. I had the pleasure of getting to know him at Sunset Park. (My mom is at Sunset Park.)

    The catholic community at Sunset Park is family. Mass on Saturday night at Sunset Park wasn’t the same when he wasn’t there. One of the last times we were with him for church, he sat next to my husband. At the end of church we gave him a hard time that he was awake the entire mass. He just grinned and shook his head.

    When we would stop in with my grandchildren, Pasquale would just smile and watch as a 1, 3, or 6 year old would be silly. He loved to watch the chaos!

    We are so sad for all of you. I feel blessed to have known him over the past year. The world is a better place because of him.

    I am unable to attend the funeral mass to tell you in person how much we thought of Pasquale. He warmed my heart whenever I saw him.

    We will always remember his smile and the twinkle in his eye.

    In sympathy

    Karen Kremer

  2. Toni C MULLER says:

    Pasquale, Pasquale you are a dear. Each and every time you were at Mass at Sunset Park it brought joy to everyone and your eyes twinkled with happiness to be with our little family of faith. Your kisses I will sorely miss and those loving hands so wrinkled and worn will stay in my heart. You were such a joy to be with and Fr Jim and I are so happy to have been a part of your life. God speed your journey to His arms.

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