Dan was taken from us unexpectedly but peacefully on January 3, 2022. 

 

He is survived by his mother Diane Shoemaker (née Slavuta) (aka Mama Bear); father Marcel; son Jackson (mother Suzanne Barrett); brother Richard (Catherine); brother David (Chantal); girlfriend Cathy Smolinski; nieces Abigail and Hailey; nephews Nicolas and Sebastian; as well as many family and friends.

 

Dan was born in Winnipeg where he grew up in Windsor Park, playing hockey into his teens. After high school, Dan ventured into many fields. His formative years were spent slinging drinks at many popular night clubs and restaurants. Most recently, he took his love and knowledge of the hospitality industry to Skip The Dishes, where he flourished as a territory sales executive and won the prestigious “The Local Legend” award.

 

Dan had a passion for cooking and would often take over the entire kitchen and prepare something amazing.  Only fresh vegetables could be used, with his signature being asparagus.  The plating and presentation of the meal had to be better than any celebrity dish and he would always top up your drink and ensure a great dining experience.

 

As an adult, Dan discovered his love of golf, where he not only attempted to be good at it; he strived to be great at it. He loved the game, the art, and the technique of the sport and studied it until he became a highly rated golfer that consistently challenged himself to be better.

 

He was also an accomplished musician. His love of the guitar not only consumed him, but also guided him through life with a soundtrack of his own passion. Musically, he learned from others and made it his own.

 

Dan had a comedic soul, his only goal was to include people in on his jokes, whether they understood them or not. His crazy sense of humour was often done at his own expense to make others laugh. When the party was going down, Dan could lift it up.

 

He personified the term “true friend”. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make sure his bonds were galvanized by his selfless caring for those around him. He made us all feel comfortable in just being ourselves.

 

He didn’t take the term family lightly. He used it with pride in describing his own family and the friends he cared about the most. The ones around him were his greatest love, and he did everything he could in letting them know how much they meant to him. And we all knew how much we meant to him.

 

Most of all, Dan was an amazing dad. From days out at the Teddy Bear Picnic, drives to-and-from school, endless rounds of golf and dinners at Elmhurst, many trips across Canada, attending Jets games, and countless other memories, he never failed to put a smile on his son’s face. He was without a doubt the best dad that anyone could ask for.

 

He was a son, a father, a friend, a mentor, a comedian, a golfer, a hard worker, and he will be missed.

 

A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. In the meantime, Dan's family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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The family asks that in lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation in Dan's memory to a charity of your choosing.