Pasquale “Pat” Danna, Jr., age 87 of Dubuque, Iowa, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, completed his earthly journey on August 21, 2019 at Dubuque Specialty Care in Dubuque, with his loving family by his side.  To honor Pat’s life, a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of the Resurrection, 4300 Asbury Road, Dubuque, Iowa, 52002, with Rev. Thomas Heathershaw officiating.  Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois. The Tri-State Cremation Center is humbly serving Pat’s family.

Pat was born on November 21, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, 1 of 8 children to Pasquale and Gerlanda (Piro) Danna, Sr.  He would begin his full and abundant life being raised within a family who was continually driven to always be their best in their personal, professional and public lives.  Pat eventually found his soul-mate, Nancy Baiardo, and the two were blessed to spend 58 wonderful years together, as well as raise 2 perfectly adored children along the way.  Pat’s first love was always at home and all of his successes throughout his life were directly attributed to his desire to provide a comfortable, secure and promising life for his family.  Pat was an electrical engineer by trade and devoted over 45 years of his working career to Western Electric in Chicago before retiring in 1996.  He gladly offered them a few more years after retirement when they asked him to help lead a project occurring in Atlanta, Georgia. After completing his final mission with the company, Pat and Nancy discovered the opportunity to build their dream home in the hills of Hiawassee, Georgia.  They enjoyed a decade of relaxing and enjoying life on their own terms and at their own speed, until health issues sadly brought them back to the mid-west to be closer to family.

Pat was so much more than a loving husband, father and stellar employee though; he was also a man who was always on the move enjoying some of the more honest and simple pleasures in life.  Hunting and fishing were clearly top on the list as he made regular trips around Illinois, Wisconsin and up into Canada to do his part to help control the fish, deer, duck and pheasant populations in all 3.  When he wasn’t out on the hunt, you could easily find him tinkering in the basement creating new fishing jigs, or reloading shells for the hunting club. He was also relentlessly devoted to the Knights of Columbus and obtaining his 4th degree was a badge of honor Pat always held true to in his daily life.  Also, being a perfectionist at heart, Pat’s pride and joy was always on display for all to see in his yard and his meticulously kept landscaping.  Beware and fair warning to any weed which may mistakenly assume that Pat’s keen eye wouldn’t catch it upon its immediate emergence.  And finally, music.  Pat was a fan of all thing’s opera, but even a little old country with Hank Williams, or his favorite Sunday album of military marches with bagpipers on parade could also fill the silent void in his day.  Pat was truly a self-driven and multi-layered man over his 87 years and the legacy he leaves behind is one of exceptional excellence in all that you do and say.  We will miss Pat deeply and dearly, but we are forever grateful that he and Nancy have discovered one another’s company again and that he now has someone to share his potato chips with for all of eternity.  Thank you, Pat, for all of the productive puttering you found yourself enjoying while you were walking among us and may your rewards be true, sweet and beyond measure as you’ve clearly earned throughout your earthly journey.

Those left behind to cherish the memory of Pat include,

his 2 children,
Anthony (Jodi) Danna,
and Susan (Scott) Nadeau;

his 4 grandchildren,
Jeffrey (Amy Alderman) Danna,
Andrew Danna,
Bradley (Amanda) Nadeau,
and Michael (Allison) Nadeau;

his 2 great-grandchildren,
Fang Fang Alderman Danna,
and Ryan Michael Nadeau;

his 2 sisters,
Josephine Danna,
and Mary Danna;

along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, friends and neighbors.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents; his beautiful bride, Nancy (Baiardo) Danna in 2015; his 2 brothers, Pasqualino Danna in infancy and Tony Danna; and his 3 sisters, Julia (Charles) Biardo, Jennie Danna and Rose Danna.

Pat’s family would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to all of his friends and neighbors at Sunset Park Place who welcomed him with open arms, along with the doctors, nurses and staff at Dubuque Specialty Care and Hospice of Dubuque for all of their comforting and compassionate care of Pat, and his family, throughout the last week.

Online condolences may be shared with Pat’s family at www.tristatecremationcenter.com