Obituary for Daniel Lynn Beech

Daniel Lynn Beech was born January 13, 1949, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan, to Betty and Walter Beech. He grew up in Portland and graduated from Portland High School in 1967. Shortly after graduation, Dan began working at Fisher Body, where he worked for 30 years before retiring.

Dan married the love of his life on September 19, 1970, after famously proposing with a pull tab from a beer can. Together they built more than five decades of memories and raised their two daughters, Angie and Heather.

Dan was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who loved his family deeply and proudly bragged about them whenever he had the chance. He was kind, funny and known for his voices, accents and impressions. He loved sports—especially Michigan State football and basketball, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions—as well as music, particularly The Beatles. He also enjoyed coaching, acting in church plays, woodworking, working in the yard, taking drives and spending time with his family.

Dan lived with Parkinson's disease for many years and faced its challenges with remarkable strength and resilience. In a final selfless act that made his family incredibly proud, Dan chose to donate his brain to the University of Michigan for Parkinson's research, hoping that what could be learned from his experience might someday help others living with the disease.

Dan is remembered with love by his wife Janice; daughters, Angela Hunt (Steve) and Heather Beech; grandchildren, Allison Beech, Theodora Hunt, Declan Hunt, Liesl Hunt and Bennett Hunt; and brothers, Michael Beech (Susan) and Timothy Beech (Barbara), along with beloved nieces and nephews, extended family members and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Walter Beech, and his sister, Betsy.

A Celebration of Dan's life will be held Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Mount Hope Church, 845 Ionia Road, Portland, Michigan 48875, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A luncheon will follow the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial contributions to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in Dan's honor.