On January 3, 2017, I received a phone call in the middle of the night that would forever change my world and life. My Dad, Daniel R. Spore, passed away in his sleep that night and the world lost the greatest man I have ever known. That morning my heart shattered and I know that life will never, ever be the same. I can’t even believe I am typing up this post. I miss my Dad more than I could ever write into words and while I can’t just sum him up on a blog post, I can at least try to honor in some little way what an incredible and influential person he was.
Not only was I extremely close to my Dad, but so were my daughters. They loved their Pa so much. Lately, we have been talking about all of our favorite Pa memories, and the girls have shared some stories and memories with me that I never even knew about. He made SUCH an impact on their little lives and the amount of inside jokes and laughs they shared, will be memories I can only hope they hold close to their hearts in the years to come. We are jotting down all of our favorite memories, so I can transfer them all to a journal. I’m also going to make each of the girls memory boxes with special articles, notes and treasures to remind them of Pa.
As a Dad, he never missed ONE thing of mine or my sister’s growing up. He was the definition of the best Dad. Every sporting event, play, recital, game….he was ALWAYS there. From elementary school to college and beyond, he never missed anything. Then, if I look back on him as a Grandpa, the same exact thing applies – he NEVER missed the important celebrations. While I know he couldn’t be at every one of my girls’ plays and school functions since he was 5 hours away ( even though he always said “I wish I could be there”) every time I sent a picture, I can proudly say that he was at every one of their birthday parties, and at the hospital for all 3 of their births. My Dad attended Sonoma’s 1st-6th birthday parties and Cora’s 1st-4th birthday parties. And knowing that he was one of the first people to hold all 3 of my daughters, makes me so unbelievably happy. The last time he came to visit our house was in November, when Cora was crowned Miss Merry Christmas of Aurora. My parents had originally planned on coming the following weekend for Thanksgiving, but last minute switched dates so he and Mom wouldn’t miss Cora being crowed and in the Winter Lights Parade. I’m forever thankful they did, because they spent all weekend just playing with and being with my girls. Cora still talks about how she played Shopkins with Pa and he took all the green Shopkins and put them in a circle and pretended they were Indians. Dad had recently called me and asked me to let him know which of Sonoma’s gymnastics meets this winter he should attend. He was always thinking about us and how he could be there to support us and cheer us on.
Sonoma and Pa
My Dad was FUN. I love that he also wore a hat to Sonoma’s cowgirl themed 4th birthday party
Cora and Pa at her 2nd birthday party. What beautiful smiles and laughs.
Pa and Sonoma at an IU Women’s basketball game. Mom told me just the other day how he was just recently talking about how badly he wanted to take Cora to one. She sure would have loved that.
My Dad didn’t just show up to everything….. he was actually present and made an impact. He laughed, shared jokes and stories, was active and played with my girls. He was super hands on. He took them to games, taught them to swim, played outside with them, taught them how to shoot a basket and dribble a basketball, pushed them on the swing, took them to the park, museums, shared his love for turtles and eagles and all animals and taught them so much about music with all of his instruments. It’s no wonder my girls’ love of music comes from my Dad and his Father and Grandfather on his Mother’s side. They were all musicians.
My Dad loved Blackberry Farm
Marcus and I realized we were terrible at flying kites and really couldn’t even do it. Of course my Dad bought a kite and brought it up and showed Sonoma how to fly it.
My Dad had a love for cars and fixing them up when he was younger. Some of my favorite memories are washing cars with Dad. I found a list he had on his phone of every car he has ever owned and the years. It was really cool.
Dad’s favorite holiday with the 4th of July. He always did it real big. Fireworks, parade, and a party.
Pa and Sonoma
Sonoma and Pa with matching turtle hats
Pa, Mimi and Cora at the Winter Lights Parade and Lighting
Right before I took this picture Dad said, I think this is the first picture of just me and Blakesley since she was born. And he was right. We had taken some group pics but none of just Pa and Blakesley.
Sonoma and Pa at his office
He was there for the birth of all 3 of my daughters. Moments I will forever treasure.
To me, my Dad was MY everything. In the last few weeks, I have had the honor and privilege to find out that he was A LOT to SO many others too. I always knew he was a kind, giving man, but wow, I never realized how involved he was with so many others. Selfishly I always wanted more time with my Dad. He would sometimes come to visit for a weekend and only spend one night, and while I wanted him to stay longer, I now realize he was always giving so much of himself and his heart to so many other people out there aside from his family. His friends. His students. His clients. The list goes on and on. So many of his students and clients and even friends of mine have recently reached out to me about all that Dad was doing for them: Meeting them for lunches, coffee, helping them get jobs, internships and interviews, writing recommendations, helping with finances, giving life-changing advice. The loss of my Dad is not just my loss. It’s so many others’ loss too. He truly did make an impact on so many other peoples’ lives and we are all forever changed because of my Dad. Some of the stories I heard were just absolutely amazing and I can’t even tell you how much they warmed my heart.
The night Marcus and I got engaged. Our parents surprised us after at the restaurant.
The day after I got engaged, my Dad drove back up an hour to Indianapolis to take pictures of all the pictures of art work Marcus drew for my engagement that were hanging in the Indianapolis Art Center. That’s just the type of guy Dad was. He wanted to be a part of every special moment and document it for me. I’m so glad he did. Otherwise I would not have pictures of how Marcus proposed to me at the Art Center.
My Dad instilled my love of sports into me. I was a sports fanatic because of him. I grew up going to IU basketball games, football games, Bloomington South football games, Harlem Globetrotter games, the Indianapolis 500, Pacers games and Colts games. My love of the NBA and all thing sports absolutely comes from my Dad. He taught me the game of basketball. We did everything together. He allowed me to take my friends to games and always got us tickets. He traveled all over to sports cards shows with me to help me with my basketball card collection. My love of sports carried on throughout my whole life, as I studied Sports Broadcasting in college and received my degree in Sports Communications and Telecommunications. I would have never pursued that if it weren’t for my Dad. When I became a Colts Cheerleader, my Dad was there at every game, cheering me on. When I got my internship with the Pacers, my Dad was so proud of me, and helped me every step of the way.
Dad and Mom at Marcus’ event – The Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms.
Dad was the absolute best husband. He was always there for my Mom, taking care of her.
At the Indy 500 practice. Every year Dad and I would go and meet the drivers, get autographs and sit in the cars.
Krista’s rehearsal dinner. Our beautiful family…the original 4.
My parents had been married 39 years. Marcus and I always considered ourselves the lucky ones.. Most of our friends’ parents were divorced or dead. Ours were both happily married and healthy.
My Dad LOVED pictures and video taping. This picture is my Dad to a T. He carried this big camera around everywhere. He documented everything and for that I am forever grateful.
My Dad recently turned all of his VHS tapes into DVDS and made copies for me and my sister. I can’t believe he just finished this huge project. What a blessing – for us to be able to watch all of our home movies from my Dad.
My Dad played football at Bloomington South and at IU before coaching football.
Dad becoming a Grandpa for the very first time –seeing his granddaughter Sonoma.
Dad and Mom at the Lighthouse in Sanibel. We all were there together in 2015 for a family vacation. Just a day before my Dad died, he and Mom told us they wanted to take us all back this year in 2017 and to mark our calendar. Sanibel holds a lifetime of special memories for us. It will never be the same without Dad.
Sonoma and Pa.
Sonoma cheered and performed at a High School basketball game last winter and you better believe my Dad drove up to watch her. He was so proud.
Sonoma’s 1st birthday party. Dad was in Orlando that day with Krista as she was on the USA Cheerleading Squad competing. He barely made it in time but he did and he was there.
Along with sports, my Dad had a love for fitness, especially biking. We grew up going on family bike rides every weekend and my Dad did lots of bike races and rides. My sister, Krista, wrote a fabulous tribute to my Dad on her fitness blog : FITNESS TRIBUTE TO MY DAD
Pa helping Cora climb her first tree. The same tree he taught Sonoma to climb in as well as me and my sister. My Dad was an Eagle Scout and loved nature and loved the outdoors.
The very last picture of just Blakesley and my Dad. This is the one I took in November of just the two of them after Dad said there weren’t any! I’m so glad I did!
We had decided to have my family’s Christmas celebration at my parents’ house this last year, a couple weeks before Christmas. I am so happy that our last Christmas together was at my parents’ house. That wast the last time we all saw my Dad in person. My girls have so many wonderful memories from that weekend of all being together and playing with their new presents with their pA.
My Dad’s Christmas card he just posted on Facebook right before he died. Wishing everyone peace, good health and happiness for 2017.
Marcus hates selfies and makes fun of me and my Mom’s selfie sticks. She demanded we do a group selfie and again, I am so thankful we did. There was so much love in my parents’ house that night.
My Dad was so proud of his four granddaughters. Everyone keeps telling me it’s all he talked about when they met him, even for business. That he would always talk about how they were his greatest accomplishments.
My Dad was an amazing son to my Grandpa. I’m glad we all have a picture together at Christmas. Dad took good care of Grandpa.
Pa giving Cora her Wellie Wisher doll
Scarlett, Pa and Cora
Cora, Sonoma and Pa playing with Sonoma’s Project MC2 spy kit. Pa helped her make fingerprints of everyone, including his. Something she will forever treasure.
Great Grandpa. Grandpa, Cora, Scarlett and Sonoma
One big IU family through and through
Sonoma and Pa snapping selfies when Sonoma was 22 months
Oh how my Dad’s mom, Grandma, was so special. Dad really wanted this picture of all 4 generations
Dad took us all out to dinner when he visited in November
Pa gave both Sonoma and Cora their very own ukuleles. The last time we talked to Pa was on New Year’s Day and Cora begged to see his trumpet. He showed it to us on Facetime. Mom told me that later that day she saw Dad washing his trumpet and cleaning it real good so it would be ready to play the next time Cora visited 🙁 The girls plan to start ukulele lessons sometime soon.
Dad loved Oberweis!
Dad took us all to Holiday World last summer. It was the girls first time going to an amusement park. He was so gentle and careful with the girls helping them on their very first rides.
My Dad had so many special collections. This is the reason I have so many collections of my own: smashed pennies, postcards, pins, buttons, basketball cards, sea glass, seashells ,door hangers from hotels, the list goes on and on. My Dad was super organized and all of his collections were very neat and orderly. He helped the girls start their very own smashed penny collections and gave them each collector books to keep them in. The last smashed penny they got together was at Holiday World.
My Dad was always in the pool with us. I have a lifetime of memories on waterslides from all over with Dad, pools, oceans, lakes, creeks, boating, etc! We loved swimming together.
My Dad was the ultimate family man.
I’m so glad I convinced Dad to go on this log ride – the first log ride my girls have ever been on.
Meeting his fourth granddaughter for the very first time.
Sanibel
My Dad loved his insurance business. He was the hardest working man I’ve ever known.
Our Christmas tradition: reading The Night Before Christmas together. I found on his phone the video I sent him of Marcus reading to our girls this year. He had saved it.
There are so many amazing pictures of my Dad. I will share some more here for now. I am certain that I will be sharing pictures of my Dad for the rest of my life.
Dad, Krista and Sonoma
We had so many fun Dads weekends together at my sorority
Dad and I at the John Mellencamp concert at the Final Four in Indianapolis.
My Dad and I LOVED playing Smashball together on the beach
Dad always had a camera in hand
Another wonderful tradition: Ringing the bell every Christmas for the Salvation Army. This is a tradition we kept up well into my married years, with my friends even.
Oh how I love this picture of Dad and Mom
My Dad bought a card for the limited edition deck of cards that the Monroe County Historical Society put together for Indiana’s 200th birthday. I had just received my deck of cards in the mail a couple days before he died. This was so special.
My Dad LOVED his jeep. The girls loved riding in his jeep. Sonoma recently made him a green (his favorite color ) bracelet that he texted me a picture of hanging in his jeep.
My Dad loves eagles. Eagle everything. He was watching the baby eagles in Fort Myers being born right up until he died. We went eagle watching together and he talked often of eagles with quotes and stories.
My Dad’s office.
He was so proud of his sea glass collection.
My Dad loved blue birds. He bought us our blue bird house.
I found this picture on his phone. He had taken it of me and my girls on Christmas
My Dad was always my basketball coach growing up. This was when I played in our hometown basketball tournament, Gus Macker, one year
2 favorite pictures of me and my Dad
Pa and Sonoma practicing her ukulele.
Playing Jellystone Park. He had recently texted me he couldn’t wait to get it out and play it with Cora and Sonoma next time they visited.
Dad loved the outdoors. I grew up hiking and camping with him. We were always outside.
Taking Cora into the ocean for the first time
Teaching Cora to swim
Sonoma and Pa
My cousin Heather said she and Dad were laughing taking pictures of each other on Christmas morning at her house.
My Dad’s band when he was little.
The last picture ever taken of me and my Dad by ourselves. I was on the way to hospital to have Blakesley. He and Mom were going to take Cora to summer camp and Sonoma to gymnastics practice. He was always helping others.
I have so much I could share and say about my Dad on here, but I will make it a priority to share his goodness and memories throughout the rest of my life. Here on my blog and in my day to day life. I never knew this type of pain even existed. I love him and miss him so much it hurts. As my Dad would always say, “Ye have a good day today and a better day tomorrow.”
Obituary for Daniel R. Spore
Daniel R. Spore, 61, of Bloomington, passed away on Tuesday January 3, 2017 at his residence. Dan was born June 27, 1955 in Bloomington and was the son of Gerald and Dorothy “Dot” Spore. Dan was a 1973 graduate of Bloomington High School South and a 1977 graduate of Indiana University.
Dan was a teacher for 3 years at Huntington North and Bloomington High School South, teaching Anthropology and US History, and coaching football. Dan then became a Financial Advisor in 1980 and for the past 30 years he worked for Bill C. Brown Associates. The past few years Dan went back to his teaching roots by teaching several classes at The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Dan was a 10 year member of the YMCA Board of Directors, member of the IU Alumni Association, Eagle Scout Alumni Association, Board of Directors – Hoosier Trails Council – Boy Scouts, and Adjunct Faculty at Ivy Tech.
Dan’s enjoyment of everything outdoors was evident by his love of eagles and turtles and his passion for hiking,biking and outdoor sports. His greatest enjoyment the past few years has been his granddaughters. Dan also loved taking pictures of family, and all things outdoors.
Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Janet (Jolivette) Spore, father, Gerald Spore, two daughters, Lindy Fischer (Marcus) and Krista Jaworski (Jake), four granddaughters, Sonoma, Cora and Blakesley Fischer, and Scarlett Jaworski. Also surviving is his brother Jim Spore (Jennifer), sister Jennifer Mullis and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dan was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy “Dot” Spore.
Visitation for Dan will be from 3-8 pm on Thursday at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard 3000 E. Third St. Bloomington.
Funeral Services for Dan will be 11:00 am Friday January 6, 2017 at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard. Rev. David Garshaw will officiate the service and burial will follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers donations may be given to the Indiana Non Game Wildlife Fund, 402 W. Washington St. Rm. W273, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or https://secure.in.gov/apps/donations/donate.aspx?id=nongame