Daniel J. Mackin

Daniel Joseph Mackin, Dan or Danny to those who knew and loved him, of West Wyoming, passed away Friday, January 26, 2024, at age 71. He leaves behind his beloved wife Kathleen, as they approached their 49th anniversary in August this year.

He also leaves behind hid daughter Carrie (Jeremy), Jenkins Twp., and son Patrick (Angie), Parsons. He loved his son-in-law Jeremy and daughter-in-law Angie immensely, who loved him as they would their own fathers, showing him great respect and admiration for the man he was. The birth of his cherished grandson Deklan in 2014, born to Carrie and Jeremy, reinvigorated Dan. He was the proudest grandfather ever, radiant with love, joy and life lessons to pass on.

Danny was born in Bethesda, MD, his father was on active duty in the US Marines at Quantico Marine Corps Base, and his mother recently left her position in the airline industry. His name Danny was certainly with his Irish ancestry, his father loved to sing, “Oh Danny Boy”= “Oh Danny buy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!”

Dan was the extremely cherished first child to his parents, John and Mary Mackin, who preceded Dan in death in 2007 and 2013 respectively. Dan’s parents were raised in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, returning there to live in Forty Fort, in the mid-1960’s.

Dan’s birth was followed by eleven additional children born to his parents. He had a profound effect on all of them as the family grew greatly. He was very much loved by his younger siblings, all of his life.

His two youngest siblings, Christine and Mary, preceded his death in 2012 and 2013. Nine siblings survive him, Jerome (Grace), Moon Township, PA, Catherine, Exeter, PA, Susan (Richard), Ann Arbor, MI, Cynthia (Robert), Flagstaff, AZ, David (Mary), Avoca, PA,
Maureen (Joseph), Beaufort, NC, Stephen, St. Louis Park, MN, Teresa, West Wyoming, PA, and Patricia, Laflin, PA.

In addition to his own large family, Dan married into his wife’s Wedra family of seven people. They shared many memorable moments for over 50 years.

Dan was a man of few words, but had an enormous heart, respecting and protecting people, animals, and nature. He was an avid gardener having the best tomatoes and a huge variety of vegetables. He loved to fish, camp, watch Nascar, and listen to music. He was a man of many talents, being able to fix the unfixable. A person who would help anyone in need. He was a great teacher, sharing his wisdom with anyone willing to listen. His knowledge covered so many topics that he never steered anyone wrong, though he hated plumbing with a passion.

Danny, a graduate of Wyoming Valley West class of 1970, pursued a career as a roofer for more than 40 years until his retirement in 2012. He was known around the valley as “the roofer who wasn’t afraid of any job.” You would often see him working on many of the church steeples in and around the Wilkes-Barre area leaving his signature initials on the peaks of each one.

During the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood, Dan stacked sandbags along the Forty Fort dike. He worked until the dike did fall, with caskets upheaving from their burial sites. All the while and afterward for two weeks, he worried about his parents and eleven siblings, not knowing if they had safely reached the Misericordia College emergency shelter. His mother feared he had perished in flood waters after so long with no contact from him. She hugged him tightly, with tears of joy that he had survived.

In 1991, Dan was the only person to run toward danger, with no hesitation or concern for his own safety, he heard a natural gas explosion in a building one house away from his own. His quick actions and evaluation of the situation helped get several people out of the building and to safety. Seconds mattered, and lives were saved. His actions that day made him a local hero.

His immediate family can attest how tough Dan was, both physically and emotionally. He always wanted to hold his end up, not wanting help from anyone. When a walker became necesasary, he found a way to keep doing things as usual, including using the self propelled lawn mower as a walker. He had a long fight and continued the battle for another 2.5 years on the earth to watch his grandson Deklan grow up, see his wife recover from bladder cancer, while his daughter owned and operated a successful business, and his son enjoyed his family and career.

Dan and his wife Kathie instilled in their children many truly admirable behaviors, certain mannerisms of courtesy, respect, love, common sense, problem-solving, and genuine care for other human beings. not all parents have such high standards, but Carrie and Patrick are evidence that their parents did, and both parents are to be commended for the adults their children are today. Dan and Kathie were a solid team in raising their children, bound in love for each other forever.

Everyone at one point in their lives would like to be a superhero, Danny lived it and was seen in that way by many people at various times throughout his life. He was our superhero and he will be greatly missed.

There will be no funeral services, per Dan’s wishes. A Celebration of Life will be held at a date yet to be determined, in good weather of spring or summer.

Arrangements are entrusted to Metcalfe Shaver Kopcza Funeral Home, Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming.