The Rev. Dr. Daniel Defassio

The Reverend Doctor Daniel Robert Defassio, beloved pastor, husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend entered the church triumphant on January 22, 2021, age 63. Daniel was the baby of the family, born to John and Gertrude Defassio in New Kensington, PA on November 11, 1957. As a child, everyone knew that God had called him to the ministry. Daniel would often recount leading his own church services in the attic, where he would collect offerings from his friends that he would give to the church on Sundays. He is a proud alum of Valparaiso University, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where he attended seminary, and Aquinas Institute of Theology, where he received his Doctorate in Homiletics. He was ordained on May 15, 1983 and served in parishes and as a police chaplain for almost 38 years. He was called to parishes in Wisconsin (St. Peter's Lutheran, Janesville, and St. Mark's Lutheran, Jefferson), Pennsylvania (Emmanuel Lutheran,Titusville and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Jeannette), and Arizona (Shepherd of the Desert, Sun City). While at Valparaiso, he met Sue and knew she was THE ONE. They were married just nine months after meeting on July 21, 1979 and they celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary last year. Together they created a most excellent family: Rachel, Danielle, Elijah, and Jacob. Daniel always said, “God and family first.” And he meant it. He was passionately devoted to caring for God’s people in any way he could. He worked tirelessly to make sure families were fed, the elderly were loved, and the homeless were welcomed. He lived the words of Jesus as best he could. “Love One Another.” He always made time for family (everyone has a favorite story or two from our long summer camping trips) and being together playing games, telling stories, and laughing were paramount to his happiness. Daniel was an incredible story-teller, an avid collector of antiquities and artifacts, an Eagle Scout, a magician (Order of Merlin within the International Brotherhood of Magicians), a Master Chaplain in the International Conference of Police Chaplains, a member of the Heard Museum Guild, and an all-around amazing human being. Daniel is preceded in death by his father John, mother Gertrude, sister-in-law Sharon, niece Nina, and a heavenly host of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and mentors. He is survived by his wife Sue, four children, Rachel (Sam) Bowerman, Danielle, Elijah (Danelle), and Jacob (Tess) Defassio, his brother John and sister Karen, 5 grandchildren Damian, Lena, Winter, Amora, and Augustus, nieces and nephews Tammy, Brian, Craig, Leslie, and Kara, and many other wonderful family and friends. A memorial service will be held at a future date at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Sun City, Arizona. Please share stories, photos, memories, and love with his family and friends here: https://sites.google.com/view/inmemory-revdrdanielrdefassio/home In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity or non-profit to honor his memory. Three non-profits that Daniel was passionate about are Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church (Sun City, AZ http://shepherdofthedesertelca.org/give/), Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (Rock Point, AZ https://www.nelm.org/support-the-mission.html), and Lutherlyn (Prospect, PA https://www.lutherlyn.com/support/)