Obituary: Dan Herzing

LEMONT, IL — Dan Herzing, 47, of Washington, passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

He was born on April 8, 1977 in Berwyn, to James Edward and Charlene Marie Karpiak Herzing. He married the love of his life, Leah Ruth Hodel, in Metamora, on Sept. 4, 2004. She survives.

Also surviving are his parents, James and Charlene Herzing; son, Raine Herzing; brother, Doug (Rita) Herzing; sister-in-law, Rachel (Tom McCaw) Hodel; three nephews, J.D. and Nate Herzing, and Logan McCaw; niece, Lexi McCaw; and his father-in-law, Don Hodel.

He was preceded in death by his older brother, E.J. Herzing; mother-in-law, Mary Hodel; and his grandparents, Dolores and Alexander Karpiak, and Edward and Gladys Herzing.

Dan studied Horticulture and Education, earning degrees at Joliet Junior College and Illinois State University. He became a beloved area manager for Willamette Landscape Services in Tualatin, Oregon, from 2004-2016 and a talented freelance landscape designer in Central Illinois the past 8 years. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer in 2014 at the age of 37 and went on to live a full, beautiful, engaging life for ten years while receiving medicine and treatments.

Dan relished sharing music playlists, trying new restaurants, talking sports, playing golf, and appreciating a fine whiskey. He surprised his wife with countless romantic endeavors and set an example for his son that reflected his generous, curious, kind nature.

Cremation has been accorded. A memorial service will be held June 1 at 10 a.m. at Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria with a Celebration of Life to follow. A Celebration of Life will also be held on June 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Pollyanna Brewing Company in Lemont. Follow Leah Herzing’s blog at LovelyLeahRuth.com for more information.

Memorial donations may be made to Lung Cancer Research Foundation.