Daniel Stankalis

Daniel Owen Stankalis, age 64, passed away October 8, 2017. Dan was born on 03/30/1953 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Anthony Stankalis and Velma Vlastos Marsh. Daniel was preceded by Velma and Rodger Vlastos and Anthony Stankalis. He is survived by his siblings: Julie Tune, David Stankalis, Dena (Chuck) Holland Nieces and Nephews: Michael and Shane Holland, Callie Fields, Rodger Tune, and Curtis StankalisChildren: Denielle (Justin) Backstrom and Abigail (Jarrod) Torrez Grandchildren: Kyson Torrez (9), Audrey Backstrom (7), Tenley Backstrom (4), Cooper Backstrom (4), Lincoln Torrez (11 mos) Raised in Petaluma, California. As a child, Dan was a Sea Scout and hoped to join the Navy someday. Sadly, when he was 17 years old while working as a mechanic, he was injured by a drunk driver and left as a double amputee. Despite his injury, he wore prosthetics for over 40 years and was an active skier and wheelchair basketball player. He also loved the lake and deep sea fishing, boating, welding (Arc on the Move) and carpentry. Dan was very talented artistically. He is remembered as always being in his garage dawn to dusk or "his shop" working on projects listening to oldies music or Paul Harvey radio. Nicknamed Dinky-doo and Babbers, he loved watching them play softball where Deni was a fast pitch pitcher and Abbi was a catcher) and basketball. He walked Denielle down the aisle at her wedding in 2005 and spent time with their Colorado families when he last visited in the Summer of 2010. Denielle and her three small children visited him for a week in Delaware in Spring of 2017 where he soaked up every minute with his daughter and her three small children, Audrey, and twins Cooper and Tenley, 3,3 and 6 at the time. He loved his two daughters immensely, more than anything in the world, and all of his grandchildren deeply. Dan came down with an infection that turned septic and doctors were not able to save him. He will be missed very much by his family and friends. Dan will be cremated and his life celebrated with a luncheon in his honor in Bartlesville, OK. Flowers may be sent to Denielle or Abigail's home addresses in Colorado. Arrangements were entrusted to Cremation Care Centers. www.greencountrycremation.com Offer CondolencePrint