Daniel Peter "Dan" Schopen

Daniel Peter “Dan” Schopen

Daniel Peter “Dan” Schopen was born on October 5, 1935, and raised in Wilmette, Illinois. He went on to build a life defined by family, faith, hard work, service, and—perhaps most of all—a wonderful sense of humor.

Dan was a character in the very best sense of the word. He was funny, hardworking, devoted to his family, and never afraid to be a little mischievous. He had a booming voice and a flair for the dramatic. Every once in a while, he would let out a huge, exaggerated “UMGOWA!” and we knew exactly what that meant. It was our signal to get ready to wrestle with Dad; it was almost like a family war cry. It was loud, chaotic, and completely Dan.

Our dad had a remarkable ability to turn ordinary moments into family memories. He would answer the telephone with, “Luigi’s Fish Market,” because, of course, why would he simply say hello? He also had a romantic side that was unmistakable. He would frequently sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart, I’m in Love with You” to our mom simply because he was in love with her. That song and others were his way of telling her, in his own wonderfully old-fashioned way, how he felt.

He could also turn even the most ordinary family dinner into a comedy routine. At Sunday dinners, after one of us finished praying, Dad would quickly chime in, “Amen, Holy Ghost—the one who eats the fastest gets the most!” That was Dad—taking a familiar moment and adding his own punchline, making everyone laugh before we even got a chance to eat.

And then there were the times he would steal Mom away and lock themselves in the pantry. We kids, naturally, would immediately try to get in and “save her.” Looking back, those moments were part of the playful love that filled our home. Dad knew how to make us laugh, but he also knew how to make Mom feel loved.

Behind the humor was a man who took his responsibility as a father and husband seriously. When we were young, he worked two jobs to provide for his family. He also proudly served for 8 years in the Coast Guard Reserve, a commitment that reflected his strong sense of duty and dedication.

Our dad was also a man of faith. When our family moved to Anaheim Hills, California in 1984, he chose our home, making sure it was just blocks away from our church. On Sundays, we would leave a few minutes early just so we could walk there as a family. When he was young, he served as a Mass server and knew several of the Latin prayers said during Mass. His faith was woven into his life and into the life he built for his family.

Our dad’s life was defined by many things—his humor, his hard work, his service, his faith, and his love for Mom—but most of all, it was defined by the love he had for his family. He took care of us, protected us, taught us his many skills, made us laugh, and gave us countless memories that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.