Daniel J. Pohlkamp

PORTAGE – Daniel J. Pohlkamp, age 66, of Portage, passed away after a quick and courageous battle with cancer on Monday, August 21, 2023, at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

Daniel was born on March 9, 1957, in Madison, the son of Francis and Mary (Lynch) Pohlkamp. He married Patricia Annen on June 25, 1983.  Dan had worked at Unimin Corporation in Portage for 35 years.

Dan was truly famous for some of his quotes that could sum up life, family, love and almost any situation in one sentence. He often said, “Life is rough in the Big 10,” an allusion to family, life in general, and his life-long enthusiasm for sports. Growing up as one of ten siblings in a house teeming with activity night and day, Dan quickly learned how not only to survive, but thrive, and his natural athleticism emerged early (and often helped him lead the pack when it came to his brothers and sisters.)

The list of sports Dan not only loved but played with skill and ease reads like a college extracurricular pamphlet: football, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, roofball, softball, and even foosball. Softball was one of the sports Dan loved the most, and his happiest times playing it were always with loved ones – his friends, his family, and most of all, with his three sons, Adam, Cory, and Brad. Even when Dan wasn’t playing a sport, he loved being a spectator, and was an avid, almost ravenous, Wisconsin sports fan. The Badgers, Packers, and Brewers, however, still could never capture his attention the way his favorite athletes did: his children and grandchildren. Watching Dan watch his kids or grandkids play was almost a spectator sport in itself; his joy and enthusiasm was almost palpable, and beyond contagious. When you saw Dan smile and heard him laugh – whether he was watching his daughter, Tracie, helping her basketball team win yet again, or if he simply re-told a good joke for the hundredth time – it left a permanent imprint on the lucky soul of anyone in his presence.

Everyone who knew Dan also knew that to him, if “some is good, and more is perfect, then even more is the best.” This motto was evident when Dan was packing way too much food for a weekend at the Lake, or when Patti lovingly put him on “Saint Vinnie’s Watch” for finding too many secondhand treasures, but nowhere was it more obvious than in the pride Dan had for each member of his growing family. When Dan first welcomed Tracie’s husband, Steve, to the family, it was with immediate love and grace. Dan was always one of the first to mention how privileged he was to have a truly brave and honorable veteran as his new son. From there, Dan’s happiness and love just kept growing, with every new addition visibly expanding his proud and happy heart. He took constant joy in bragging about his beautiful, whip-smart and graceful eldest granddaughter, Rylyne; he was as proud as when he first became a father when Brody, his athletic and incredibly kind-hearted first grandson came along; Kenlie, Dan’s second granddaughter and his adorable little “spitfire,” kept him in stitches with her antics and yet, as he’d often say, he could never say no to her gorgeous eyes; and when his second grandson, Cory’s son Carter, was born – sweet, spunky, and an ever-loving jokester – he made Dan laugh like no other. Just when Dan’s life couldn’t seem more complete, and his family couldn’t make him more proud, he got to welcome yet another beautiful person into the Pohlkamp fold: Adam introduced Dan to Tasha, a pure spirit of life, whom Dan lovingly called his “Gypsy Daughter-in-Law.” “Even more” truly was the best, and Dan’s immense pride in his family proved it.

Another famous Dan quote that helps sum up his passion for life is: “I was put on this earth to make people happy,” and that’s exactly what he did. Dan approached almost every avenue of his life with a zeal and energy that inspired others to do the same. He was the life of the party at his bar, The Dugout; the first person to jump in the water on Lake DuBay; the most welcoming host during Canal Days; the best company on family Brewer bus trips; an honorary emcee and huge help at Biserfest; and he and his wife, Patti, took great pleasure at being the best euchre players at any (and every) holiday event.

Dan’s famous and infamous “crane walk,” which could make a stone wall crack a smile, was a nod to another of his loves, birdwatching; just like his love and talent for gardening tied into his incredible cooking skills, especially when it came to the delicious chili he loved to make and, most importantly, to share. Dan brought so much fun and joy into everyone’s lives, he could actually do it over the phone, even when it came to one of his typically (yet delightfully,) long calls to family or friends – more often than not about sports, of course.

Dan will always be remembered as larger than life, because he was, in essence, truly that. Everyone who was blessed to call him family or a friend will forever carry a piece of Dan’s happiness and love with them, not only in their hearts, but on their faces every time they remember Dan’s smile. He will be missed beyond measure, and forever beloved by all.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia;  their children, Tracie (Steve) Kayartz, Adam (Natasha) Pohlkamp, Cory Pohlkamp, and Bradley Pohlkamp;  four grandchildren, Rylyne, Brody, Kenlie and Carter;  his siblings, Julie Pohlkamp, Christine (John) Biser, Colleen Peckham, Kevin (Nan Jean) Pohlkamp, Mark (Sue) Pohlkamp, Mary Allen, Joanne (Preston) Sigmon and Frank (Julia) Pohlkamp, Jr;  his brother-in-law, Brian Smith;  many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Rose Smith, nephew, Cory Giagoletto, niece, Kendra Pohlkamp, nephew, Sean Allen and great-nephew, Dakota.  

A memorial visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.  Inurnment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established.

Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.