Daniel A. "Dan" Mehringer, 78, of Holton, passed away Sunday, June 4, 2017 at the Banner Creek Reservoir west of Holton where he had been kayaking.

He was born February 27, 1939 in Garfield, Kansas, the son of Joe & Iva Bingaman Mehringer. He graduated from Kinsley High School in 1957.  He attended Fort Hays State University and graduated in 1969.

Dan worked for the Larned State Hospital for 2 years prior to moving to Holton where he worked for SRS for 33 years, retiring in March, 2002.

He was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Holton, Holton Knights of Columbus Council No. 4219, James Gibbons 4th Degree Assembly No. 286 in Topeka, Jackson County Senior Citizen's and served on several boards as a volunteer.  Dan helped with the R.C.I.A. program at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Meriden.  In 2010, he was awarded Volunteer of the Year for the Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame.  He served on the Jackson County Development Council, was a trained volunteer for Jackson County Friends of Hospice, volunteered with Jackson County Head Start, Relay for Life, and was a cancer survivor.  He helped with the local Community Dinners and was very active with Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church on the Potawatomi Reservation.

Dan was a part of the Holton community for 47 years and was active volunteering and giving of his time to others and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He never failed to see the saint in the sinner.  He was such an inspiration on how to live life and loved being outdoors whenever he could.

He married Lorena "Suzy" Balius on December 27, 1966 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook, Nebraska. She survives, of the home.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Jim Mehringer, John Mehringer and Lawrence Mehringer, who died in a childhood accident, a sister-in-law, Mona Mehringer, and a nephew, Matthew Mehringer.

Other survivors include three sons, Chris Mehringer, McCook, Nebraska, Stephen Mehringer (Corin), Kirksville, MO, and Mark Mehringer,Kansas City, MO; two grandchildren, Levi & Eliana Mehringer, and a special friend of the family, Andrew Barkow.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 9th at St. Dominic Catholic Church.  Burial will follow in the Shipshee Cemetery on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation.  Dan will lie in state at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton where a Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m.Thursday, followed by visitation until 8:00 p.m.  Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Jackson County Friends of Hospice, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 1034, Holton, 66436. On-line condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com