Joseph Anthony Daniels, 55, of San Diego, Calif. and formerly of Burlington, passed away in the presence of family and friends on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in the supportive care of LightBridge Hospice after a six-month battle with cancer.
Joe was born on July 23, 1964 to Robert “Bob” Daniels and Jeanne (Doolan) Daniels, the youngest of 11 children. He spent his childhood playing ball, swimming, going to the Rec Center and hanging out with all the neighborhood kids around Henry Street. Joe attended St. Mary’s Grade School and High School graduating in 1982. During his senior year, Joe was named to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All Area Football Team. His team also won a State Championship. He attended Iowa Wesleyan for three years on a football scholarship and later transferred to UW La Crosse to play his senior year, graduating in 1987. His mother, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews loved to travel and watch him play his college games. He also enjoyed preforming in one-act plays and had the lead in the high school play Guys and Dolls. He was an avid tennis player and was a member of the UW La Crosse intramural team.
Joe moved to San Diego in 1990 where he worked in the building industry, the last 10 years making and installing cabinets. He coached youth football for several years and led a couple of teams to championships. He was a huge Rolling Stones fan and saw them whenever he could (at least 10 times if not more). He loved playing guitar and writing songs. He got great joy out of writing and performing songs as a member of the Gay Men’s Spiritual Retreat. His big project every year was the Spaghetti Dinner Fund Raiser. He had the recipe for the sauce with the preparation and serving down to a science. His proudest accomplishment was his 10 years, 10 months of sobriety at the time of his death. He also volunteered at Stepping Stone (where he achieved his sobriety) in San Diego. He was also a member of the Different Strokes Swim Team. Joe was an avid Wisconsin sports fan and enjoyed following the Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Badgers. He especially enjoyed his time watching Packer games with all his friends from “Packer Palooza”. Everyone will miss his smile, his laugh and presence in our lives.
Joe is survived by his brothers, Bill (Janet) Daniels of Frederick, Md., Tim (Lynne) Daniels of Burlington, Paul (Peg) Daniels of Alpharetta, Ga., Peter (Shannon) Doolan of Richfield, Minn., Tom (Doris) Daniels of Mukwonago, Gerry (Amy) Daniels of Waunakee; sisters Anne (Dan) Crowley of De Forest, Eileen Daniels of Burlington, and Janet Vogelsang of Burlington; 13 nephews and 12 nieces.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Claire Cowan, brother-in-law David Cowan, nephew Kyle Crowley. His brother-in-law James Vogelsang died shortly after Joe.
A memorial service will take place on Feb. 1, 2020 at Integrity Celebration Center, 2789 Browns Lake Drive in Burlington. An open house from 1 to 3:30 p.m. will be followed by a 3:30 memorial service. Private family burial will be at St. Mary’s Dover cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Joe’s name can be made to Stepping Stone of San Diego – LGBT Alcohol/Drug Treatment. https://steppingstonesd.org/joe
Services have been entrusted to Integrity Funeral Service. Well-wishers may visit www.integrityfunerals.net.
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