48
Hartford, SD
June 4, 2021
Daniel Patrick Spisak, son of Ronald Spisak and Bonne (Wehrkamp) Spisak, was born July 14, 1972 in Sioux Falls. He spent his early childhood in Chester and later moved to Hartford. Dan graduated from West Central High School in 1990 and attended some college courses following that.
Dan began his career with Sweetman Construction in February 1991 and worked his way up to a Driller and a Blaster in the rock quarry. He loved rock blasting (a precise and highly engineered activity that is a controlled use of explosives to excavate and remove quartzite rock). He loved it so much, he stayed there for 30+ years. As he often said, “I blow up the world, one piece at a time!”
One of his many interests included a love of skydiving – which he started doing with his brother Matt. Dan then roped almost everyone in his family into trying it too. He even convinced his Dad to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. His family enjoyed the experience, yet Dan developed a true passion for the sport. In addition to having over 2,500 jumps, he also was a Certified Static Line Instructor and Tandem Instructor and was club president as well for Skydive Adventures. Of the many memories, some standouts are when he gave a tandem jump to the SD Governor in 2013, and the numerous times landing into Howard Wood Field, often with the American flag in tow.
He also enjoyed his cars (a prized 1987 Firebird) and motorcycles including both his Chopper built with his friend Pete and his Harley. He loved to ride – feeling the wind in his face above in the skies and down below on the ground.
What he truly loved above all else was his son, Jude, and spending time with him. He was so proud of his son and nothing made Dan happier than being with Jude. You could see it in his beaming smile, the twinkle of his eye and the contagious laughter.
Grateful for having shared his life are his son, Jude Martin Thomas Spisak of Sioux Falls; his mother Bonne Spisak, his father Ron Spisak (with bonus mother Cathie Knock); his brother Thomas (Andrea) Spisak, all of Hartford; his sister Sara (Trent) Houk of Sioux Falls and his nieces and nephews Steven (Michelle) Enyeart, Theodore “TJ” (Aerla) McCoy, Treton Anderson, Ethan, Preston and Cassie Houk and Alison and Samuel Spisak.
He was preceded in death by his brother Matthew. They are now both feeling the wind in their faces better than ever, together.
Memorials can be made to the family to establish an account to be presented to Jude when he becomes an adult.
Funeral Mass was held Friday, June 11, 2021, at St. George Catholic Church in Hartford.
Arrangements provided by Miller Funeral Home.