Dan was born on December 11, 1937 in Mantiwoc, Wisconsin. He was the youngest. His three sisters, Connie, Janice, and "Patsy," remember him as mischievious and resourceful. He graduated from elementary school at St Boniface. He attended Washington Jr High, and Lincon High in Manitowoc. He gradutated from Madison East in Madison WI. He joined the Army Reserve in 1958 and soon after was living in Milwaukee where he met Beth and began to raise a family. Dan always had two or three jobs and loved to work on cars.He and his young family were living on the east side of Milwaukee. He worked second shift at the beginning of his Post Office career(1960), and cared for his two daughters, Julie and Amy, before work. Dan's reserve unit was activated in 1961, and the family drove to Olympia, Washingington in a 1954 Edsel. In 1963 he and Beth purchased their Milwaukee home, a home Dan was constantaly remodeling and Beth was perpetualy redecorating. The young couple built a garage with lumber, neighboors, and many cases of beer; it's still standing. They also put in a pool, deck, and patio and enjoyed being outdoors all summer long. It was a small home, but always stylish and the site of good times with friends. The family camped around the state, and no one ever enjoyed a better picnic lunch on a hike. Joshua the collie was known at many campgrounds for his good behavior and intelligence. Beginning in late summer the family's attention always turned to the Green Bay Packers. Dan scored season tickets in the early 60's, and when the Packers played away games, the Crooks home buldged with Pabst Blue Ribbon, Packer fans, and a bountiful half-time buffet. Dan enjoyed working on his 55 and 56 T-birds, talking on his CB radio, and helping everyone repair cars and anything mechanical. He was a real WW II buff, knew all the planes, tanks, and major battles. Unless you were really interested, you learned not to ask him about it. He did, however,in later years, pass this interest on to his grandson, Justin. As his girls grew,he taught them to be independent (ask their husbands), and to think through actions before making a decision. Then, he said, "move on with no regrets and remember you did the best you could." When Julie married Glenn, the following day their car wouldn't start at thier honeymoon hotel. They called Dan. His response:" Jeeeze, I thought I was gaining a son-in-law, not another damn car to work on!" He went right over. When Amy decided on a nursing career after she had her first child, Dan picked her up every morning, dropped little Sally off at the sitter, drove Amy to school and then went to work at the Main Milwaukee Post office. In the evening he reversed the process. He never complained about the hours added to his work day. Dan and Beth went their separate ways in 1984. Dan lived in Milwaukee and transferred to the Wauwatosa Post Office. He was known as an unique clerk; he worked the windows with expediency and personal service. He was fun. On many days if you entered the lobby you'd find his line the longest, not because he was slow, but because people wanted to wait for him. He retired in the late 90's. He loved driving and, in addition to his rereational car trips, eventually went to work again driving part-time for Bonded Messenger. He liked the long trips. Often by 11 am he'd already been to Madison and Chicago, and was asking for another delivery assignment. Dan had just moved to Greenfield to a beautiful Condo and was still on the payroll at Bonded when he died from a prolonged illness. We miss him.