Daniel Joseph Hier

Daniel Joseph Hier September 1, 1951 – November 23, 2025

Daniel Joseph Hier, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully,aged 74, on November 23, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan.

Born on September 1, 1951, at Camp Carson, Colorado, Dan grew up with an adventurous spirit that never faded. He was an avid outdoorsman and craftsman, who found joy in camping under open skies, hiking new trails, scanning the heavens through his telescope, shooting sports, woodworking, biking, sailing, and kayaking - pretty much anything that allowed him to breathe fresh air and marvel at the world around him.He had a deep love for reading and enjoyed exploring a wide range of genres, from science and non-fiction to bestsellers and biographies.

He met the love of his life, Susan Mary Giffen, while sailing, proof that the wind occasionally steers us exactly where we need to go. They married on June 26, 1976, beginning a 49-year partnership filled with devotion, laughter, and the kind of companionship that only deep respect and genuine friendship can build.

Dan and Susan welcomed their children, Anne and Daniel, into a home filled with curiosity, projects, and plenty of outdoor adventures. Dan loved cheering them on through countless swim meets, pinewood derbies, and band concerts. Watching Anne and Dan discover their passions and strengths filled him with pride, and he stood beside them through every high and low, offering quiet encouragement while never shying away from challenging them when it mattered most.

Dan worked for Detroit Edison as a welder, bringing a meticulous eye and steady hand to everything he did, and was very proud to have risen to the position of Capital Projects Manager. But his greatest pride was always his family. He cherished time spent with them, whether on a trail, around a workbench, or gathered at a big table sharing a meal (so long as peas were nowhere in sight).

As life moved forward, Dan found a new and joyful center in his five grandchildren. They became his daily focus and his greatest delight. He spent countless hours in school pick-up lines, pushing swings higher and higher, making maps for buried treasure, taking them kayaking, building robots, splashing in the pool, and offering calming cuddles in his well-worn leather chair. He took them camping (even in the backyard), rode bikes alongside them, and always seemed to dream up some new way to make each grandchild feel uniquely special. In their laughter and curiosity, he found renewed purpose - and they, in turn, adored their Papa beyond measure.

Dan was, at heart, a big kid - joyful, curious, and always game for exploring something new. He encouraged everyone around him to appreciate nature, savor life, and never lose their sense of wonder. Soft-spoken and endlessly patient, he loved telling stories or explaining how something worked. You always knew his words came from a place of enthusiasm and love.

He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, hard work, craftsmanship, and countless family memories punctuated by laughter. Though he will be dearly missed, the echoes of his stories, the lessons he shared, and the adventures he inspired will continue to be felt for generations.

May he rest under the wide, starry skies he loved so much.

He is survived by his loving wife Susan; his daughter Anne (John); his son Daniel (Theresa); and his grandchildren, Joe, Jack, Penny, Charlie, and Matty, who were truly the lights of his life. He is also survived by his siblings Ellen, Mark (Lynn), and Jane (Tom); his siblings-in-law Denis (Marion), Jerry, and Shavan (David); and many adored nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Daniel and Matilda, brother-in-law, Shaun, and sister-in-law, Sharon.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2015, at Henry M. Malburg Funeral Home, located at 11280 32 Mile Rd, Romeo, MI 48065. Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 3:30 p.m., where family and friends are invited to share stories and memories in celebration of his life.