Daniel Wdowiak

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February 28, 2021 · via iPhone

My condolences for the loss of your loved one. The hurt and pain of losing a loved one is difficult. Please know that God is near to those that are broken at heart and who are crushed in spirit.(Psalm 34:18) God will wipe away all tears from their eyes... more

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July 26, 2020

Kristie - Our hearts go out to you and your family. Kendal and I are still in shock from the news of Dan's passing. He was such a wonderful person and good friend. He and I traded v-mails recently and I had a note to call him so we could catch-up. I... more

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July 23, 2020 · via iPhone

Beautiful service Kristie, Jacob, Sam and Cody❤️. Our family loved Dan very much. He was always so kind, caring and compassionate. Whenever we went to visit in California, he made us feel so welcome. His hospitality was unmatched. I loved the way he... more

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July 18, 2020

There are many words which come to mind when Craig and I think of our dear son-in-law. We have known and loved him for 22 years. Dan was loved so much by Craig and I and we will miss him forever. We shared so much life with him it is hard to put into a... more

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July 17, 2020

Even after a little bit of time has gone by, I am still in shock at the news of Dan's passing. My heart breaks for Kristie, Cody, Samantha, Jacob and the rest of their family. Dan was always such a genuine, caring and all around great guy. Every time I... more

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July 17, 2020 · via iPhone

I don’t have many pictures of Dan but I believe this was the last time I saw him. I have so many wonderful memories of him from being absolutely smitten by him as a child dancing with me at Lara’s wedding to Disney with all your kids. He made such an... more

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July 17, 2020

I had the pleasure of working with Dan at Frito-Lay and again at Nestle. Always enjoyed our time together and many phone conversations over the years. Always upbeat and eager to reflect on his many blessings, Dan especially liked to share stories of his... more

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July 17, 2020 · via iPad

We had the privilege of getting to know Dan, Kristi, and Jacob when we became good friends and neighbors with Jackie and Craig. We enjoyed several fun meals together but my favorite memory is the great big smile when I cooked Chinese food for him. Dan... more

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July 16, 2020

While I did not have the pleasure of meeting Dan. I have worked with Kristie since beginning my career with Frito Lay a year ago, when starting our safe always program here in Denver we asked all team members to provide an image of why they work safe. ... more

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July 16, 2020

I have known Kristie, Dan, and Jacob since the beginning of my Frito Lay career 12 years ago. Dan was always present at our Cucamonga Frito Lay events, and I remember him being very approachable, friendly and easy to talk to. My favorite memory of Dan,... more

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July 16, 2020

It was a true pleasure to work with Dan in SoCal. He was one of my favorite ZOMs (especially since he answered emails and provided the information that I may have been requesting on time!) :-) He was always genuine, caring with that great big smile... more

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July 15, 2020 · via mobile

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July 15, 2020 · via mobile

When I transitioned from Active Duty USMC in 2001, Dan was one of the first people in Frito Lay that I had the privilege to work with in SOPS. We did our ZOM "Tours of Duty" together in SoCal for almost a decade and he was ALWAYS genuine in his... more

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July 15, 2020

My wife and I met Dan several years ago through Kristie at a Frito Lay social event, and we both developed an immediate connection to him that strengthened each time we got together thereafter. Dan was an incredibly likable guy with a magnetic... more

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July 14, 2020

I worked with Dan for a few years in the old SoCal Region. Dan was one of those guys that I just loved to sit down and talk with. Most of our conversations were not about work. He was so proud of his family and his wife. He told me how Kristi would... more

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July 13, 2020

The first time I ever met Dan it was more than 20 years ago. We were essentially set up on a “play date” together by our respective significant others, and I wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. Kristie and Katie were going to be bridesmaids at... moreThe first time I ever met Dan it was more than 20 years ago. We were essentially set up on a “play date” together by our respective significant others, and I wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. Kristie and Katie were going to be bridesmaids at Nancy’s wedding, and were required to attend all of the usual prep-time and mimosa drinking that is typically involved with being a bridesmaid. Basically, Dan and I were the odd men out, as we were not part of the wedding party, and Kristie and Katie decided we could keep each other company (and keep us out of their hair for a couple of days).
I remembered thinking…”Fantastic, I get to spend a weekend in Mountain Top Pennsylvania on a blind “bro” date with Kristie’s boyfriend.” Like I mentioned, I wasn’t overly excited at the prospect…First of all, I didn’t know the guy, and second of all he’s “old” (like in his 30’s). As I look back on that thought today, I would trade various limbs to be 35 again, and now realize just how young Dan actually was , but I didn’t know any better at the time.

So, we met up with Kristie and Dan, and the girls went their way, and Dan and I went ours in search of a local watering hole. I remember getting into Dan’s Hyundai Tiburon (which was a sporty little coupe made by, what was then, a relatively new car company at the time). For those of you who are not familiar with Mountain Top, PA, as the name implies it sits on the top of a mountain. The terrain is somewhat hilly, and it was at this time that I realized just how much Dan enjoyed driving…at a very, very high rate of speed. He attacked those hills of Northeastern PA the way a 7 year old might attack well-wrapped presents on Christmas morning. He even had a somewhat maniacal glimmer in his eye, and a grin on his face that said he was enjoying the drive as much as he was enjoying the uneasy look of terror on his passenger’s face. We were like a couple of low-rent Dukes of Hazzard zipping around in that Hyundai, and although time can play tricks with your memory, I’m almost certain we caught air going over some of those hills.

Needless to say, we arrived safely at our destination, and Dan and I got down to the business of getting to know each other. We talked like old friends, because Dan always had a way of making you feel like you’ve known him forever. We talked about our past, our hopes for the future, things we wanted to do, places we wanted to go, and the day flew by. I realized that Dan was one of those imperfectly perfect people. Some people are obviously flawed, but they seem blind to the fact, or they take pleasure in gossiping about the shortcomings of other people. But Dan wasn’t like that. He knew he wasn’t perfect, and he was the first to admit it, and he was also the first to accept imperfection in other people. All he ever asked from you in return was that you try to be a good person. Although I started out reluctantly, it was that wedding weekend that I realized I had made a friend for the rest of my life (or for at least as long as Kristie would put up with his crazy driving).

I didn’t see Dan much after that, he and Kristie lived in New York, and Katie and I lived in New Jersey, and then Kristie and Dan moved out to California more than 3000 miles away. However, as luck would have it, a couple years later I ended up being transferred to the same area where they now lived. Dan and I picked right up where we had left off, and our time in southern California was full of great memories. Backyards full of kids playing, barbeques, dogs, sunny days, trips down to San Diego to visit Kristie’s Mom, Las Vegas get-aways, and trips to various beaches.

One of my favorite memories of our time in Southern California was the day Dan and Kristie got married. For those of you who don’t know, they got married on a boat in San Diego Harbor, and it was an absolutely picture perfect day. The weather was fantastic, the bride and groom both looked beautiful and handsome, and seeing two of our close friends getting married in such a storybook setting seemed only fitting. So, as the sun set, and the day turned to night, I remembered thinking that day could not possibly get any better. The boat approached Petco Park where a baseball game had just ended, and then, almost as if on cue, fireworks from the stadium lit up the night sky. Kristie and Dan had somehow lucked into their very own personal fireworks display. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

It was during this time in California that I came to realize what a good guy Dan was. Always generous with his time, ever-present was his love of life, family and friends. People often say “he’ll give you the shirt off of his back” when they want to describe someone who always puts other people’s needs in front of their own. But, I can’t say that about Dan. Not because he wouldn’t give you that shirt…No, far from it. Because if you were lucky enough to call Dan a friend, you know that he wouldn’t stop at giving you the shirt off of his back. It would never be that easy with him. He might start by giving you that shirt, but in typical “Dan fashion”, he would then spend the next couple of hours fretting over you…worried that the shirt didn’t fit you quite properly…and then he’d insist on taking you to the store to buy you a better shirt, and he would not rest or relax until he was certain you were properly taken care of.

Although I moved back to NJ, Dan and I would stay in touch through social media and the occasional messages back and forth. I watched him and Kristie have other adventures, and watched him celebrate family milestones from afar. I was very happy when he and Kristie returned to Penn State for a November football game a couple years ago. They got to meet up with my daughter, Samantha, who was a freshman there at the time. Not surprisingly, Dan messaged me to tell me that they had a good time at the game, but it was very cold there, and my daughter needed better winter gear. I informed him that I had recently dropped a couple hundred bucks on a very warm Northface coat for her, and if she wasn’t wearing it, then it was her own fault. I received a one-word response from Dan…”Gloves”.

It was a very fitting response, and very typical of his generous and big-hearted nature. That’s how I remember my friend. His devilish grin as we zipped through the Pennsylvania country-side, his love of life, his generosity, and his unyielding commitment to his family and friends.

You are missed, Dan Wdowiak. less

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July 13, 2020 · via iPhone

Dan and I met in early 2000 during a Duck Pin Bowling Event in Killingly,CT. Over the next 19 years our work paths crossed 2 different times for two different companies. Creating many opportunities for LONG conversations over good wine.

Most of those... more

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July 13, 2020 · via iPhone

We met Dan and Kristie in 2014 when they moved to Dallas and instantly became friends. We have such great memories of getting together and having a great time. Dan played on the fantasy football league with my husband Grant and the other guys. They are... more

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July 12, 2020

As I write this, I am saddened, and my heart is broken to hear of Dan’s passing. Dan was not just my boss at one point in time in his career with Frito-Lay. We also became close friends after he left the company. All these years Dan and I have stayed... more

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July 12, 2020

I first met Dan at the Kirkwood Plant in New York. He worked with me in the warehouse and was my "Go To Guy". Such a great attitude and would do anything for anyone. Very caring and supporting of his peers and those around him. Always a... more

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July 11, 2020 · via iPhone

I will always remember Dan as the kid on Honey Hollow Rd. that was always smiling. He was always nice to everyone, I don’t recall him ever being mean to any of us Hawk girls. RIP Dan.

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July 11, 2020

What a fun day we had showing Dan "Happy Valley". We froze (especially the CA guy) on that very cold November game in Beaver Stadium but it was still a great time spent with great friends.

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July 11, 2020 · via iPad

I met Dan through our time at Nestle/Dreyers. Dan was a mentor and friend and we shared a good amount of time together in various business dealings. I always felt Dan to be giving and always there to lend a helping hand or give advice. We had a special... more

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July 11, 2020 · via iPhone

So many wonderful memories! ❤️❤️ Here are just a few of the many great times we had together.

+1

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July 10, 2020

Dan was an awesome leader. I have some many memories of him and I working through B24 challenges in Cuc...trying to complete 30 hrs of holiday volume in 16 hours with just 1 shift of team members. He was always so positive and upbeat with the team -... more

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July 10, 2020 · via iPhone

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July 10, 2020

Dan was so proud of his family. We would talk about our families and he would share how lucky he was to have the kids and Kristie in his life. He always had a calming demeanor and was always open to new ideas and recommendations. I can't remember a... more

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added 1 photo(s) to the memorial :

July 9, 2020

Larry Harris reacted on this.

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July 9, 2020

My memory of Dan is the time he struck up a conversation with me at a social event. His easy going nature made it very easy to talk with him. Definitely melted the awkwardness away from attending the event. Just an all around good dude to hang out with.

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July 9, 2020

Dan and I went through NCIMT together back in 2009. Dan and I made an immediate connection as he did with most everyone he touched. Dan had a desire to help people become the best possible versions of themselves and he had that affect on me as well. ... more

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Kristie Wdowiak reacted on this.

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July 9, 2020 · via iPhone

Kristie Wdowiak, Neville Morton, and Larry Harris reacted on this.

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July 9, 2020 · via iPhone

Dad with his kids

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Kristie Wdowiak and Neville Morton reacted on this.

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July 8, 2020

I worked with Dan for a number of years. He was one of the kindest guys you could meet. He had a big heart, especially for kids. When my son was ill and going through treatment, Dan was always checking on him and was so generous and thoughtful.

My... more

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Kristie Wdowiak reacted on this.

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July 8, 2020 · via mobile

I will always remember Dan for his contagious smile. He was such a kind, caring gentle soul. He had a way of knowing if you needed an ear to listen or if you just needed to hear a good joke. I looked forward to my Birthday every year to see what he had... more

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July 8, 2020 · via mobile

Dan, Loved this car from my Father's collection. He would always say to me if my Father ever wanted to sell to make sure he was first in line. It is a 1953 MGTD Roadster. It was a racer in it's day! Brought tears to my eyes when my Father pulled up in it

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Kristie Wdowiak reacted on this.

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July 8, 2020

These photos are how I will remember Dan, he was a great coach and a great person. He loved the kids and always was up for a good time! He will be missed.

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Kristie Wdowiak That was a fun day at Quakes stadium. Look at that smile...
- July 8, 2020

added 3 photo(s) to the memorial :

July 8, 2020

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July 8, 2020

I hope you will all take the opportunity to share a memory of Dan. He was the love of my life and I want to honor him. I'd like to use the content to put together a very special virtual ceremony given the COVID situation keeping us from gathering and... more

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