Daniel Schlenker

Daniel Douglas Schlenker, 80, passed away September 9, 2017, surrounded by loving family, following a courageous battle with cancer.  

Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., October 14, 2017 at St. Peter Funeral Home in St. Peter with visitation one hour prior to the service.

Dan was born May 2, 1937 to Dan and Ella Schlenker in Wishek, ND.  He grew up attending school and working at his father’s Ford Garage in Wishek, ND. Dan joined the United States Army in August 1954, and then as a member of the National Guard until his honorable discharge in May of 1962. He married the love of his life, Dorothy Moeckel, on June 17, 1962 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Wishek, ND. Their marriage was blessed by two children, David and Debra.
 

Dan continued working as a mechanic after returning home to ND from the Army until he and Dorothy moved to Roseville, MN where together they managed and were the caretakers of ROCA townhomes from 1969 to 1978.

Dan and Dorothy purchased a hardware store in St. Peter and together  they ran Dan's Hardware Hank until December 1996.  He quickly became known as Handy Dan the Hardware Man, and he was well-known for his ability to fix just about anything.  Dan was a member of the St. Peter Chamber and St. Peter Ambassadors.

Dan loved getting the store ready for Christmas by turning the basement into a toy wonderland.

After Dan’s retirement from the Hardware store Dan worked part time at the St. Peter High School from 2003-2008.
 

Dan had a lifelong love of tinkering with and fixing things and also doing woodworking.  He enjoyed boating, camping, and reveled in authentic German cuisine.  He became very tech savvy in his later years allowing him to stay connected with friends and family from near and far.
 

Above anyone else, Dan adored his four grandchildren, and enjoyed being a part of their lives.  He liked sharing his life stories with them. Dan was also well known for his love of his 16 year old African Grey parrot Louie who learned to talk mimicking Dan’s voice perfectly.

Dan is survived by his son David Schlenker, his wife Theresa, and their son, Daniel;  Marine on the St. Croix, MN; daughter Debra, her husband Tony Kammerlander, and their daughters,  Brittany and Nicole (Winthrop, MN);Meghan and her husband Shawn Jensen (Houston TX);his faithful African Grey parrot Louie; sisters Meta Heiser (WA); Donna and Paul Gall  (Ashley, ND). Dan is also survived by many other friends and family. Dan was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Schlenker (Moeckel); parents Dan and Ella Schlenker; his stepmom, Ruth; brothers Walter, Milbert, and infant brother, Arnold.

Dan’s curious and insightful nature continued following his death, as he donated his eyes to the Lions Eye Bank.

Blessed be his memory.