Daniel Walters, 57
We are sad to announce Daniel “Big Dan” Walters, 57, left us behind in his dust Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Kootenai, Idaho.
He was reportedly last spotted with the wind whipping through his mullet and a can of Steel Reserve in his hand while riding a Harley toward the early morning sun. Sadly, the rumors of his departure being a ploy to avoid creditors or his ex-wife are untrue. Dan’s true loves in life were his sons, digging for “good finds” in piles of other people’s trash, drinking beer, and wheelin’ and dealin’.
Dan was born Feb. 5, 1967, and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. After spending a short time in Spokane, he joined the Athols up north after marrying one. They eventually relocated to Sandpoint when he discovered minutely lucrative work at DumpCo. At no point throughout his life did Dan go unnoticed. In childhood, he was noticed for mischief he couldn’t help but find. As an adult, his large stature and loud, vibrant personality hardly fit in rooms. His soul truly “never met a stranger.” Dan was a kind man who took pride in helping others. He loved and accepted people from all walks of life, including misfits, morons, and mental patients alike.
Dan’s proudest accomplishments were his two sons. His firstborn, Jeremy, helped Dan correct his life course by giving him a purpose in life. Purpose, which consisted of finding gems among the discarded; in addition to buying, selling, and trading anything that had wheels and the potential to generate a faint rush of adrenaline. Gavin was born a firecracker, arriving on the cusp of Jeremy’s high school graduation. Gavin taught Dan that he wasn’t really in charge of anything in life. Dan lived vicariously through Gavin’s athletic ability and love of sports. The pride he had for each of his sons was immeasurable. Dan showed his boys how to live through camping excursions, early morning fishing trips, backyard barbecues, checking out local events, and never skipping the opportunity to stop at a flea market, yard sale, or random pile of junk on the side of the road. He is fondly remembered for the pride he had in equipping his oldest son and niece with the skills and tool kits to perform oil, plugs, wires, and tire changes. This accompanied the coveted first (and second) beaters with heaters, often spotted three blocks away from the mortified teenagers’ location.
In recent years, Dan shared some of his remaining time with a special woman, Kim. She brought him happiness in life that his family hadn’t seen in a while. Sadly, Dan’s deteriorating health played a contributing role in limiting their time together. His early departure has left his boys, close family, and friends broken-hearted. The boys have been contemplating the fate of the abundance of junk that Dan insisted on dragging home over the last four decades. The potential value of any treasure to be discovered will never compare to the value of the memories he left us with. He is greatly missed.
Dan is survived by his sons, Gavin and Jeremy; daughter-in-law Bryana; his mother, Linda, and her husband, Mike; his sisters, Brenda, Kerry and Kellie; and his brother, Tracey. Dan was somehow also survived by many troublesome nieces and nephews of questionable upbringing.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Dan’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.