Daniel Michael Beale

Daniel Michael Beale (aka Danny, Dan, Danno, Uncle Dan), 29, was killed January 13, 2022 in a workplace incident.

Danny is survived by his parents, Jean Schade (Dave Storey) and Michael Beale, his oldest sister, Meghan Beale (Colin Cook), and twin sister, Jackie Beale (Ben Widmeyer). Uncle Dan will sorely be missed by his nieces, Olive Murray and Vaughn Cook, nephew, Alex Cook, and dear friend, May Zhang. He also leaves behind his aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends made between Alberta and Ontario. Danny will be greatly missed by all.

Born on November 29, 1992 as the baby of the family by 19 months (and 19 minutes), Danny spent his childhood swimming with the Deep River Candus, sailing on the Ottawa River, attending piano lessons with Mrs Hoelke, and goofing off with his buddies, the latter of which often ended with Danny getting stitched up at the local emergency room. Danny’s early life was punctuated by camping trips with the family tent trailer, ski trips to the eastern townships of Quebec, and weekends spent fishing and swimming at the Hunt Camp, a place held dear to his heart. As a teen, Danny became an avid paddler and participated in numerous Trekkers and Tamarack canoe trips.

In his early twenties, Danny courageously fled the nest to work as a surveyor in Edmonton, Alberta. While living in Edmonton, Danny developed a passion for Jeeps and off-roading, joined a crew of like-minded Jeep enthusiasts, and spent his free time exploring rural Alberta and pulling his polar blue Jeep, JuiceBox, out of the mud. While in Alberta, Danny began honing his lifelong passion for tinkering and electronics through an electrician apprenticeship, which eventually led him to settle back east in Ottawa, Ontario as an electrical technician at Eastway Tank. At Eastway Tank, Danny immersed himself in his work, enjoying both the challenges of his new position and belly-laughing with his coworkers, who soon became his close friends.

Danny was eclectic in his interests. When not working, Danny filled his spare time with a multitude of projects, ranging from etching wood and mounting antlers, to raising saltwater fish and coral, to honing his bushcraft and snaring skills, to propagating lemon trees and nurturing indoor plants. Danny was a pilot (of drones), an artisan cheesemaker, a fermentation expert (his kombucha, sauerkraut, and sourdough were divine), a vodka connoisseur, and a self-proclaimed Soviet Union history buff. Danny was an angler and a hunter, and brimmed with the anticipation of taking a buck each fall. In recent years, Danny had begun refurbishing an old road bike and training to ride from Ottawa to Deep River (the ‘Tour de Deep River’ as Danny called it). He had also designed a solar powered control panel for his dad’s fishing boat, which his family plans to bring to fruition.

Danny was a family man, always keen to teach his niece to summersault, dance with his cousins to the Spice Girls, or join his parents on trips to southern Ontario for family reunions and holidays. Those that spent time with Danny will always remember his sense of humour and attitude towards life. Danny was easygoing and uncomplicated, caring and humble, inquisitive and compassionate, and especially eager to engage with those around him. The conversation was rarely about Danny. Instead, Danny was a sponge. He took a great interest in others, asked endless questions, and absorbed from their experiences. Danny truly listened.

A memorial for Danny will be held in the spring, when friends and family can gather to remember a truly special human being. Donations in honour of Danny may be made to Edmonton’s Food Bank or the Deep River and Area Food Bank.