Obituary of Daniel B. Houck

Daniel Brent (Dan) Houck, beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend, 65, of Leicester, NC, and formerly of Candor and Owego, NY passed away on November 25, 2021, at the Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, NC. Dan was born in Baumholder, Germany to Katheryn Stash and Robert Houck on April, 9th 1956. He went to high school at Candor High School and graduated in 1974. He proudly served in the United States Navy aboard the USS John F Kennedy from 1975-1979. He worked as an inspector for the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control and as an instructor at the New York State Fire Academy. He enjoyed photography, the outdoors (deer camp), guns, cooking, animals, building, writing/storytelling (best known for his tale "Herman The Trout"), and most especially good times with friends and family. He received multiple awards for photography including the 2003 Digital Sports Photo of the Year and was the inventor of two specialized tools used by firefighters and rescue technicians worldwide to expedite the rapid and safe extrication of victims of motor vehicle accidents. He was a volunteer firefighter in Candor and Owego NY, a Leicester Community Center board member, an animal rescuer for Brother Wolf and Mountain Pet Rescue, a member of the American Legion, and co-founder of Candor's annual Canduckie Derby. Dan is survived by his wife, Janet McNamara Houck of Leicester, NC, daughter, Rhiannon (Joshua) Orendorff of Candor, NY, son, Greggory Houck of Candor, NY, stepson, Jonathan (Teresa) McNamara of Owego, NY, father, Robert Houck of Candor, NY, mother, Katheryn Stash of Candor, NY, sister, Kristin (Ronald Smith) Bradley of Hope Mills, NC, brother, Jeffery (Stephanie) Houck of Interlaken, NY, sister, Kimberly (Paul) Olmsted of Federal Way, WA, stepbrother, Jim Blow of Elk Grove, CA, sister-in-law, Donna Sanza of Poinciana, FL, sister-in-law, Marilyn (Thomas) Goltz of La Crosse, WI, grandchildren Kalia, Abigail, Olivia, Emma, and Ryder Orendorff and Grady and Nola McNamara, former wife, Deanna Houck, along with many beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Alvin and Jane Houck and Roy and Vera Annis, uncle, Herm Annis, stepfathers, Paul Blow and Andrew Stash, stepmother Valerie Houck, stepsisters, Margaret Mohler and Anne Baker, mother-in-law Lois Anderson, two infant siblings, and his most special friend since kindergarten and uncle, Douglas Strong. The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 11, 2021 from 10:00AM to 12:00PM at Estey, Munroe & Fahey Funeral Home, 137 Main Street, Candor, NY. Memorial services will be held at 12:00PM at the funeral home with Rev. Phil Jordan officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Candor, NY. Memorial donations to cover final expenses may be mailed to Gregg Houck PO Box 666 Candor, NY 13743 or online at paypal.me/gregghouck. Funds remaining after expenses will be divided among Dan's preferred charitable organizations. Condolences may be made to Dan's family at www.emfaheyfuneralhome.com.