Daniel “Dan” Kearney went to heaven on September 23, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. A devoted husband and father, Dan was also a loyal friend, dedicated coach, selfless volunteer and the best dog daddy ever to his Bernedoodle “Steeler.”

Dan was born in Pittsburgh, PA on September 14, 1970 to John and Donna (Tosic) Kearney. The middle son of five children (Jack, Elizabeth “Liz,” Theresa “Terri,” and Michael). Dan was raised in a loving, close-knit, Irish/Polish Catholic family. They moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, eventually settling in Orange County, CA where Dan played football at Mission Viejo High School and attended Saddleback College.

Dan met the love of his life, Jennifer Green, when they were much younger, but they didn’t reconnect and marry until later in life. Their son, John Christopher Kearney, was born in August 2012. John was the light of Dan’s life, and he was a dedicated and hands-on Dad who changed diapers, coached sports teams, built the biggest sandcastles, put together all the Legos, and taught John more about character and virtue in 14 years than most dads do in a lifetime.

Dan was an active member in the community and was a Parishioner at St. Edwards the Confessor Catholic Church in Dana Point. When Dan got sick and could no longer work, he filled his days volunteering in between doctors’ appointments and treatments. He started working at Age Well three days a week helping with their Meals on Wheels program. He felt it was his duty to give back to those who were worse off than he was and John would join him in the Summer and any days he was off school. During holiday times Dan would help John make Christmas and Valentine’s Day cards to accompany their deliveries. During baseball season, Dan loved to cook pulled pork on his smoker for the Dana Point Youth Baseball snack bar. It was a crowd favorite and would always sell out. And he was a staple at John’s school, helping in the classroom and chaperoning field trips.

Dan loved sports and was a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He passed along his passion for the team to his family and Dan and Jennifer attended Super Bowl XLV in 2011. Although the Steelers lost, it fulfilled a dream to see his team play in a Super Bowl.

Dan and John would regularly watch Steelers games together, but Dan’s favorite sports pastime by far was supporting John at his baseball, football and rugby games. If Dan wasn’t on the sideline, you could always hear him cheering from the stands.

A man of many talents, Dan was also an incredible cook. He could bake anything (there was a waiting list for his banana bread), and he was an avid smoker, having the patience and skill to cook some of the best BBQ around and his homemade stuffing every Thanksgiving was a family favorite. Dan loved to fish, go target shooting at the range, and he made the perfect cup of coffee.

Dan was happiest with the simple things, and he continued to live life to the fullest up until the very end. He had a witty sense of humor and was the friend you could always count on for help as there wasn’t anything he couldn’t build, fix or put together. Once again, his patience and steadfastness allowed him not to be intimated by pages of instructions or a million pieces and parts.

Dan traveled with his family on a cruise to Alaska, an international rugby tournament with his son to Portugal, he went fishing in Alaska, Mexico and Hawaii, visited Costa Rica, and spent time in Montana, Kauai, Palm Springs, and Lake Tahoe making lifetime memories. He enjoyed quality time with friends, an occasional good bourbon on the rocks, and quiet nights at home with his family and favorite pup Steeler.

Daniel Patrick Kearney is survived by his wife Jennifer Kearney, son John Kearney, his mother Donna Kearney, sisters Elizabeth Greiner and Teresa Swaner, brother Michael Kearney, brothers-in-law Dave Greiner, Brad Swaner, John Green, Ken Farnam, numerous nieces and nephews, and dear friends.

Dan was preceded in death by his father John Bernard Kearney (2003), his brother Jack Bernard Kearney (1986), and his brother-in-law JC Ruelas (2016).