07/06/1953 – 06/16/2021

Daniel Manesis passed away peacefully to God following a long and courageous battle of cancer. Dan had a love for life, his family, dear friends and phenomenal employees.

Dan was born in Denver, CO and moved to Madison as a child with his family. His career started at Arlan's Department Store at the young age of 12. After receiving his BA from UW-Madison he moved to Chicago to work for Korvette's. This led him to New York working in sales for Revlon where Lauren Hutton was his instructor. Wanting to return back to Wisconsin, he opened Silver Spring Hardware on 57th and Florist in Milwaukee. Slowly he starting incorporating more trucks into his business which grew to what is today Daniel A. Manesis Transportation Inc. With his love of heavy haul trucking, he then incorporated warehousing into his portfolio. Dan had a great joy for music which led him to renovate a historic building in Johnson Creek now known as The Gobbler Theater. Dan had tremendous love for working hard.

He started car racing at the age of 16. For years his pro comp racing took him to many tracks around the USA but his favorite track was back home at Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, WI. Dan has been drag racing there since 1971. In 2014 he started the Midwest Nostalgia Pro Stock Association. Since then, he has had a blast racing with a wonderful group of teammates. His racing family and the track owners meant the world to him.

Dan's fascination of trains started from a book his mother read to him as a young boy. In the basement of his childhood home Dan created a small train board. As he grew, so did his love for trains. In 2008 he built his dream HO scale train board room in Westcliffe, CO. He later added a full-size Milwaukee Railroad caboose to his yard.

More than his work, racing or trains Dan's greatest loves and passions were God, his family, friends and rescue dogs. You could find Dan every week at church praising the Lord and thanking Him for the precious gift of life. Dan deeply believed in the power of prayer and would pray multiple times daily. His tremendous and immeasurable love and devotion to his wife, son and daughter were of utmost importance to him and apparent to all. Dan's friends and employees filled his heart with love and gratitude. Dan was passionate and had incredible love for rescue dogs. Always helping the abused, mistreated and abandoned.

As Dan said each new day was a precious gift from God, he lived life to its fullest. He was never short on hilarious stories from his past and loved to share those with all around him. There wasn't a dull moment or silence in the room if Dan was present.

Dan is survived by his loving wife, Stacey; his children, Todd (Qurryn) and Samantha (Derron); soon to be grandson Cameron; brothers Dr. John (Bess), George (Georgia), sister Joann, sister-in-law Chris and his beloved fur babies Lily and Zoey. Dan is predeceased in death by his parents Nick Manesis and Mary Hempel, and brothers Dale (Dina) and Pete.

A special thank you to the many friends that have been on this journey and checked in daily with Dan; Jim Gilboy, Robin Salerno, Bob Mayerle, Jim Parks, Chris and Carrie Shenuk and Angelica Gibbs. Each day Dan looked forward to your daily call/message and more importantly, your friendship and support.

Thank you to Mayo Clinic, Minnesota Oncology, Tudor Oaks and Brighton Hospice for their extraordinary care and support.

In lieu of flowers donations to Dan's favorite dog rescues would be appreciated. MIT Liebe GSD Rescue, PO Box 376, Suamico, WI 54173 or Woof Gang Rescue, 1906 Melvin Avenue, Racine, WI 53404.

Dan's final wish was that his family and friends attend a race for his group to cheer on his teammates at his favorite place – Great Lakes Dragaway, 18411 1st St, Union Grove, WI 53182. Join us on Saturday, July 24th. Mention to the admission gate that you are there to celebrate Dan Manesis for free admission to the track. Our team will be ready to race at noon and will continue through 9pm. Dan would love for you to enjoy the sport he has appreciated for 50 years. Rain date is Sunday, July 25th and the next rain is Saturday, August 14th.