For nearly forty years, Daniel shaped the world with his hands as a brick mason, building more than walls—he built a life of care and steady presence. A jack of all trades, his work was not only in stone and mortar but in the loving restoration of things often forgotten. His love for British cars, the hum of a finely tuned engine, and the pursuit of perfect sound as an audiophile spoke to his need to find harmony in all things. He was a man who listened deeply, not just to words but to the silences between them, and in those silences, he gave people the space to be truly heard.
Daniel often spoke of his son as “the best thing he ever did,” not as a boast, but as a simple truth, his life’s greatest achievement, spoken in love. His devotion to his family was the thread that wove through everything, steady and strong, even as the years grew heavier.
He leaves behind his devoted wife of 46 years, June, the one who shared his life’s path, his beloved son, Alexander, and daughter-in-law, Sarah, along with his sisters, Nancy (Michael) Naprstek and Mary Russell, and his brother, Don (Freida) Russell. There is a chorus of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will carry the memory of his gentle presence forward. Preceding him in death were his parents, Wauna (Jack) Aitken and Jean Barde Russell, who, like Daniel, knew the beauty of building and rebuilding.
A celebration of Daniel’s life will be held on Saturday, October 5th, at 11:00 AM at Roper and Sons South Chapel (3950 Hohensee Drive) in Lincoln, Nebraska.
In the spirit of giving that Daniel embodied, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, or the Nebraska Democratic Party.
Though Daniel’s hands are now still, the life he built remains—etched in the hearts of those who knew him, like a well-loved melody that lingers in the quiet after the song has ended. His legacy is one of kindness, quiet strength, and the deep love that endures, long after the last stone has been set.