Daniel W. Callahan Jr., 75, of Oak Park, died on April 30, 2014. Born in Oak Park on April 22, 1939, he attended Forest Park’s St. Bernadine’s Grammar School, Fenwick High School and graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School. Daniel served in the United States Marines for two years and was in the reserves for two more. He worked with his Father, Daniel W. Callahan Sr., owner of D. W. Callahan and Sons Plumbing, Heating and Lawn Sprinklers from the age of 17. Daniel and his brother, Thomas Callahan, purchased the family business after his father’s retirement. He, himself, retired in 2004. He was a member of the local Moose Club in Cicero and was a member and president of the Forest Park Kiwanis organization. Daniel volunteered locally with the Kiwanis Club during the holidays, delivering food, gifts and toys to children and families in need and looked forward to and enjoyed traveling and spending quality time with his wife and seven children. He lived in Oak Park for 75 years and resided in his current home on Oak Park Avenue for 45 years. Daniel Callahan is survived by his wife, Betty Callahan; children, Cheryl (Mark) Puknaitis, Ronald Callahan, John (Arlene) Callahan, Karen Callahan Pappas, Kelly (Jeff) Chrusciel, Kim (Rick) Selby and Courtney (Eddie) Cruz; twenty-one grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; siblings, Mike (Ann), Helen, Kathleen (Terry) O’Brien, Geri (Mike) Rice, Thomas (the late Viola) and Patsy (the late John) Collins and Patrick Callahan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel W. and Helen Callahan; and his sister, Mary (the late Edwin) Ziebell. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 8 from 3 – 9 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St. in Oak Park and on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10:30 a.m. at Oak Park’s St. Giles Church, 1045 Columbian Ave. Interment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Memorial Donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
