Daniel Jilka

To the sounds of Danny Boy by Herb Alpert, Daniel Leroy Jilka passed away peacefully May 27, 2020 in Sun City, AZ. He was 82 years old. Born November 21, 1937 in Nevada, Missouri, Dan was an accomplished engineer and successful businessman, as well as a beloved father, grandfather and great grandfather. Dan was a man who did not need the spotlight but quietly made everything work and got things done in work and life. For all his accomplishments, his pride in his daughters and 5 grandchildren was a continuing joy in his life. As an avid sports fan and a vocal referee (from the stands), he instilled a love of golf and baseball to his children, grandchildren and great grandchild. He was a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, Washington Huskies and K-State Wildcats. Raised on a farm in rural Delphos, Kansas, Dan graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1959 and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University in 2002. He had a 23-year career at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1959 until 1982 as a Government Avionics Manager, working on the Mercury spacecraft, displayed in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. In 1982 he relocated to Seattle, Washington to co-found Management Recruiters of Seattle (MRI Seattle) where he specialized in Avionics and Aerospace recruiting. He continued to co-own and manage MRI Seattle until he passed. In 1990, Dan was a founding partner for TecSci, a firm that grew to 120 employees, specializing in high technology in the communication and aerospace industries, providing services to Boeing and Motorola, before it was sold to a Swedish company in 2000. In 2015, he moved to Royal Oaks life care independent living in Sun City, AZ where he enjoyed an active life traveling, playing golf and bridge, participating in the West Valley Tremble Clefs singing group and visiting with his grandchildren and family in Washington state and Iowa. He traveled the world, including several trips to the Czech Republic to visit the home of his ancestors, a pilgrimage to Israel and a visit to Jordan, a month’s stay in Japan and a visit to Australia and New Zealand. Dan is survived by his partner, Ronda Clark with whom he shared over 43 great years, daughters Sheila Burton (Andy), Polk City, Iowa and Shari Jilka, Seattle, Washington; five grandchildren, Andrew Burton (Elaine), Mesa, AZ, Abby Burton (Jordan Bowers), Scottsdale, AZ, Matt Deehring (Ione), Adam Deehring, Nick Deehring (Jenna Ayers) all of Seattle, WA; great grandchild Penelope Deehring and two more on the way; former wife, Judy Moore; sister Evelyn Hyde and Ronda’s children Todd Clark (Beth) and Trevor Clark (Mary Anne). He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Irene Jilka, brother Darrell Eugene, sister Judy Ann and brother-in-law John Hyde. Private family services will be held at a later date. Dan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2016 and was an active member of the West Side Tremble Clefs. He was Treasurer for the West Side Tremble Clefs and on the Board of Tremble Clefs Arizona. Memorials may be directed to the West Side Tremble Clefs, PO Box 1161, Sun City, AZ 85372. Note WSTC and Dan Jilka Legacy Fund in the memo line. Also, please visit www.caringbridge.com to post stories and memories of Dan.