Daniel E Willems

May 2, 1957 - November 19, 2020

Daniel Edward Willems was born in Milwaukee WI on May 2, 1957 at St. Francis hospital. Dan lived in Milwaukee attending St. Alexander Grade School and St. Bonaventure Prep School for men until his parents moved to Jacksonville FL where he finished High School at Nathan Bedford Forrest. After attending local community college, he transferred to University of Florida and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He later earned his Professional Engineering license in Florida. His first job was with Chicago Bridge and Iron doing work on steel structures and tanks from Aruba to Vidalia GA Plant Hatch nuclear facility. He also worked for construction companies on the Jacksonville River front project and the US Navy Sub Base in Kings Bay GA. He went to work for General Electric Nuclear Energy division as a Project Manager developing patents on a number of tools for nuclear plants. He finished his career with Siemens Energy as an Engineering Manager while earning other patents on Gas Turbine auxiliary designs. He met his wife Angel of 33 years while at Kings Bay GA . With her daughter Denise, they have lived in a number of US states that his work moved him. These locations included Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Dan was an avid fisherman enjoying fishing on his boat from the Fox River in Wisconsin to the British Virgin Islands and Canada. His sense of adventure was satisfied by numerous visits to Europe on business but he also managed to attend a friend’s Polish wedding in Poland and was later joined by his brother Ron and his wife, Patti in Antwerp and Amsterdam as they traveled around Europe. On two separate occasions they explored the Caribbean British Virgin Islands on a 35 foot sailing catamaran where they enjoyed snorkeling and fishing. The Florida Gators were always near and dear to his heart but he never lost his love of the Green Bay Packers. Every Sunday growing up in Milwaukee, he watched the Packers with his Dad and brothers. Dan was diagnosed with lung cancer in June of this year and fought a brave and valiant battle with this disease till his body could not support him. He lost his battle on November 19, 2020. His loving wife was at his side throughout the fight till his end at the Orlando Regional Medical Center.