Daniel John Thaeler

Daniel John Thaeler, 90, "As long as I could remember, I wanted to go places"; and so he did - passing peacefully on July 5th, 2017 at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Born in Bohdikov, Czechoslovakia in 1927, he immigrated to the US in 1950. Daniel was very proud of being a naturalized US Citizen and while working full time at night and raising a family, received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Fenn College (Cleveland State University). He worked for several companies during his professional career including Dalton & Dalton and Cleveland Crane & Engineering. During his time with Dalton & Dalton providing services to the US Agency for International Development, he and his family lived in Khartoum, Sudan which led to many family adventures and travel throughout Africa and Europe. His favorites included trips down the Nile River, hiking at Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, numerous safaris and driving his VW Microbus across Europe. In 1977, he and business partner Jim O'Donnell formed Associated Drafting Services. Their firm highlights included providing professional services for the SOHIO (BP) Building and I.M. Peis' Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Daniel is survived by his five children John (Helen) Thaeler, The Woodlands, Texas; Deborah (Mark) Oberdoerster, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Karla (Tim) Oberdoerster, Mentor, Ohio; Daniel Thaeler of Washington DC; and David (Lezlee) Thaeler, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Daniel always said "There's no sense creating memories for oneself. If only “one” person has them, no one has them. Family is everything." He was lovingly dubbed 'Papa-Sani' by his family. (His person) will live forever in the (oral history) and hearts of his beloved grandchildren, Christen (Jordan) Snyder, Carley Oberdoerster, Jordan (Caitlyn) Thaeler, Molly Oberdoerster, Zachary (Shaqueline) Oberdoerster, Bryce Thaeler, Megan Oberdoerster, Katy Oberdoerster, Chloe Thaeler, Claire Thaeler and 2 great-grandchildren, Maxwell and William Snyder. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years, Margaret “Marge”, his parents Jan and Anna Turek, and his brother Jan Turek (of the Czech Republic). The family would like to thank the nurses, caregivers and the rest of the team at The Palms of PVB and the entire team at Community Hospice of Northeast Florida for their care. The family will receive friends from 12-2 pm Saturday July 22, 2017 at Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. A memorial service will be held at 2pm Saturday at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in Mentor Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Bede's Food Bank, 9114 Lakeshore Blvd, Mentor, OH 44060, or Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4226 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32257, in memory of Daniel Thaeler. Everyone who knew him, knew his humor, quirky wit, gentle-kindred spirit, and adventurous will to learn. (Papa-sani, if only we could all do you proud!). Offer condolences at www.brunners.com

Daniel John Thaeler

February 1, 1927 - July 5, 2017