Daniel Lyons

Daniel G. Lyons, 72, Green Bay (formerly Kelly Lake), Wisconsin, passed away at home October 13, 2024. Dan peacefully began his next journey in the company of his dearest friends Ben, Lynne, and Peter.

Dan was born December 1, 1951, at Mount Sinai Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Austin and Lorraine (Shade) Lyons.

Dan graduated from Pius XI Catholic High School in 1971 and later attended Milwaukee Area Technical College for Machine Shop.

Dan married the love of his life, Phyllis (Wagner) Binon, February 21, 1988, at Little Church of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Phyllis preceded him in death August 22, 2006. They loved vacationing at Rost Lake and Kelly Lake and spent countless hours fishing together at many nearby lakes. Phyllis had the love and expertise in fishing and shared it with Dan. It became one of his favorite pastimes following Phyllis’ death.

Dan began a career he loved at Western Building Products in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 1976, spanning over 30 years retiring December 2006. Dan was a highly skilled, knowledgeable, and valued employee as production assembler and trainer instrumental to the foundation of the Company, always dependable with an exceptional work ethic. Many co-workers still remember Dan fondly.

In high school Dan started learning enough about car motors that he drove his own Pontiac at Great Lakes Dragway in Union Grove and raced other cars as well on the drag strip. From there his interest in racing increased. He helped many friends who raced at Hales Corners, Slinger, Beaver Dam, Cedarburg, and Kaukauna. Dan developed an interest in building car engines that spanned his lifetime and spent many hours with others building motors in a friend’s garage. Attending high school with Alan Kulwicki may have sparked his lifelong interest in full engine builds and car racing.

Dan was a huge fan of Nascar all his adult life, but really got the itch to travel when he bought a pickup and camper and started traveling to as many tracks as possible every season. As soon as the schedule came out, he began jotting down race dates and locations and then mapping out how he could get to the most tracks in each trip. Then he’d return to Wisconsin for some four-wheeling, car shows, and fishing before he set out again. Although he was a fan of many drivers, he had most seriously followed Wisconsin’s Matt Kenseth; but when Matt left the Nascar Cup circuit, he followed Chase Elliott.

He also enjoyed hunting, ice fishing, walking, bike riding, and lifting weights.

He loved fireworks and donated to Biner’s Boomers at Kelly Lake. He also donated to pay for the original ATV/UTV signage for Town of Spruce and helped put it up and also sponsored many trophies for Kelly Lake’s Rusty Nutz Car Show.

January 2023 Dan was in an auto accident which soon led to his being unable to live on his own anymore. He would move in with his dear friends Ben and Lynne in Green Bay. But Dan never lost the urge to get up and go and until March 2024, went with Ben every weekend on “the big truck milk route”. He looked forward to this, even setting an alarm to make sure he would be up when Ben was ready to go. He helped clean the truck, read gauges, wrapped hoses, and more. People at the milk plants still share their memories of him with Ben. They even nicknamed him “Big Man”! He loved helping Ben on the farm every chance he got.

Deeply loved and missed by Ben Peer (Lynne), Peter Cherney, and Alexis Cherney.

Survived by his brother Ron (Joan), nephews Ron Jr. (Karen) and Mike, and niece Jean. Also survived by many cousins throughout the state.

Words cannot express our gratitude to Aurora Hospice and their entire team but especially his RN Angela and CNA Luann. Your care helped Dan to more months than ever expected and helped me keep my sanity those last 6 months. You too are deeply missed (even by Kinky and Who).

Memorial donations in Daniel’s name may be directed to Aurora Hospice.

A special heartfelt thank you to James and Greg at Jones Funeral Service for their compassionate care through this difficult time.

Arrangements for a service have not been made but would likely be in the summer at Kelly Lake.