Daniel Myron Makar, a resident of Mentor, OH, was born in Pittsburgh, PA on June 11, 1954 to Myron and Mary (Ben) Makar and died on October 12, 2017 at Hospice of The Western Reserve in Euclid, OH. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Teresia (Gafford) Makar, his daughter, Morgan Makar of Mentor, and his two sisters: Barbara (Phil) Widomski of Boardman, OH and MJ (Tom) Jurlina of Bartlett, IL, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Dan was preceded in death by both his parents.
Dan grew up in Youngstown and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1972. He pursued a career in information technology and retired from Eaton Corporation in Eastlake, OH in 2003 after 18 years of service. He also worked as a teacher at Lakeland Community College in Willoughby, OH and a software analyst for the Department of Defense in Cleveland, OH.
Before his health declined, Dan’s hobbies included riding his motorcycle, gardening, woodworking, travelling, going to the shooting range, and spending time with family and friends. He loved to learn and enjoyed sharing what he learned with others.
He met his wife, Teresia, in January of 1989. They were married the same year on May 20th in Henderson, Kentucky. They were both working for Eaton Corporation at the time. They often joked that they met through computer dating since Dan wrote and supported the programs that Teresia used every day. They are the parents of one amazing daughter, Morgan, whom they often refer to as their greatest creation.
Dan loved to travel. His love for bicycles as a child grew into a love for motorcycles as an adult. He put over 100,000 miles on his BMW motorcycle in about 15 years. He had his share of accidents, but that never stopped him from getting back on it again. He covered one end of the United States to the other on his many road trips. He gave up motorcycling when his daughter was born because he wanted to make sure he was there for her while she was growing up.
Dan joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 1989 and was a member in good standing at the time of his death. He most recently served in the Family History Library maintaining its many computers. No matter where he served, he always took his responsibilities seriously and fulfilled them to the best of his ability. Unfortunately, his growing health problems often interfered with his ability to participate fully in church activities.
When his father died, Dan accepted responsibility for taking care of his aging mother. He would often spend the weekend checking off items from her honey-do list. He loved her very much and missed her dearly after her death in February 2008.
Dan’s life changed dramatically after undergoing two failed back surgeries in 2000 and 2001. Instead of enjoying a very active lifestyle, he was consumed with chronic pain. In 2015, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Despite undergoing surgery to remove his bladder in 2016, the cancer had spread throughout his body. Fifteen months later it would take his life. He was only 63 years old. He is now pain free for the first time in 17 years. While listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing “If the Savior Stood Beside Me,” Dan slipped easily and peacefully into His Heavenly Father’s care. All those who knew and loved Dan will miss his dry sense of humor, his intelligence, his kindness, and his generosity.
A memorial service in remembrance of Dan will be held 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8751 Kirtland Road, Kirtland.
Arrangements are entrusted to McMahon-Coyne-Vitantonio Funeral Homes in Willoughby and Mentor.
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