Jim Daniel was many things to many people. He was a son, brother, friend, husband, teacher, father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. For me he was father, but also teacher, and most certainly friend. But as my first teacher, he set a bar few others were able to exceed, let alone match.

He taught me to love nature, and to respect it. When we would go fishing, it was always catch and release, “Let’s let that one get a little bit bigger” or “See if you can catch that one again another time”. My love of animals in all their forms is due to him. He loved all animals, but it was the cat that I feel he loved most. There is an old colonial proverb that says, “You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats”, over the years we have had many feline friends and they all loved my father. There was a connection there that was unspoken, but true.

A love of knowledge was also a gift he bestowed to me. He was so full of facts and information, as a, child I just assumed he knew everything. He made sure I understood that knowledge was always there for the taking, and to never be afraid to go and get it, a fact I am sure he shared with his students through his thirty-seven-year teaching career at Purdue. He did a crossword every day for many years. One day while I watch him do one in pen, as he always did, I finally ask why he did not do them in pencil? He simply told me doing it in pen means you are committed to your answers. He never claimed to get them all right, though often he did, but only that he was confident in his answers. Which is in-itself a powerful life lesson.

The understanding of deeds not words is also a gift from my father. He was a fairly quiet man, though this may have been more survival instinct or perhaps a gift in a house of four children, three of which are fairly loud girls. This is not to say he was a silent observer, only that he was succinct in the use and time of his comments and insights. His deeds showed his love, whether it was cooking at a company picnic, or being a founding member of the O.B.C and never missing a “meeting,” or partaking in family events big and small. He was kind and gentle and always willing to help if he could in whatever way he could. This was my father’s true love language and by these deeds we all felt his love and affection.

My father loved Christmas, looking back now it may be in partly due to his being a man of deeds. Whatever the reason, the Spirit of the Season always shown brightly in his eyes. He loved all the tradition and pomp that the holiday brought. One memory in particular stands out, I do not remember my exact age, but I was old enough that I thought I had things figured out because many of the gifts from Santa came wrapped in our local newspaper. So I remarked that it was interesting that Santa got the Journal and Courier and without missing a beat my father told me that Santa gets all the papers that is how he keeps track of who is naughty and nice.

There are so many more things he taught me, far too many to put down in a complete list. A few do stand out however: a love of sports, science, classic rock, Dr. Who, PBS, horror movies, that humor in all its forms from the silly to the absurd should be appreciated. I learned that taking the scenic route is always worth it even if it does not seem so at the time. One of his favorite quotes I use nearly every time it is applicable, “Never pass up a free meal or the chance to go to the bathroom.”

As we walk through this most difficult time know that while our friend and father may no longer walk this earth, each memory we cherish will keep him alive for those who loved him well. Also, small acts done in remembrance of him will do the same. So, each time you share a story, quote a line, do a crossword in pen, or any of the myriad of deeds for which he was know you help to keep the legacy of his alive. A legacy of humor, of knowledge, but most of all, of great love shown through small amazing, wonderful deeds.

Love Always-Janice

Private family services will be held.

The family invites everyone to watch the livestream of the service at 6:00pm, Tuesday, January 5, 2021.