Daniel L. Hurst

Daniel Hurst, age 78, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. He was a beloved husband, father, papa, brother, uncle, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Born in Red Bud, Illinois, Daniel was the son of Milton and Ruby (Mehner) Hurst. He was the oldest of three brothers and grew up in Tilden, Illinois. Over the years, Daniel lived in Braceville and Wilmington before ultimately settling in Joliet.

Daniel graduated from Gardner South Wilmington High School in 1966. He went on to earn his Associate’s Degree in Data Processing and Computer Programming from Joliet Junior College in 1969. That same year, he proudly began his service in the United States Army, serving as a Sergeant from 1969 until 1971 and stationed in Germany. Following his military service, Daniel began a long career with Illinois Bell/AT&T, working as a lineman and splicer from 1974 until his retirement in 2013.

Daniel had a passion for classic cars, especially muscle cars. He was particularly proud of his International Harvester Scout, which earned several awards at car shows. He was a member of the IH Scout Club and the Mopar Club. He also enjoyed spending time at Lily Cache Beach Club, where he loved to fish.

Daniel had a knack for fixing just about anything. He enjoyed working on cars, taking things apart, figuring out how they worked, and finding a way to make them work again. He also loved camping with his family in their pop-up camper, towed by his beloved Ford LTD Country Squire station wagon.

Daniel was someone who liked to stay informed and could regularly be found keeping up with the news, whether reading The Herald-News and Patch or watching BBC News. He enjoyed the Food Network, especially Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, as well as the Discovery Channel, History Channel, and even a good B-rate science-fiction movie.

He had a particular fondness for lemon and grape slushes and never turned down a bowl of Zuppa Toscana from Olive Garden. After the Riviera Restaurant in Gardner burned down, Daniel spent years searching for another place that served a good bagna cauda.

Daniel had a wonderfully unique sense of humor and a personality all his own. He was never afraid to speak his mind, lend a hand, or, when necessary, offer someone his famous middle finger. His wit, stubbornness, generosity, and ability to fix nearly anything were just a few of the qualities that made him unforgettable.

Daniel was diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer in January 2026. Throughout his illness, he remained surrounded by the love of his family.

Daniel is survived by his loving wife, Mary; his children, Lisa and John (Carrie); his grandchildren, Nick, Annika, and Riley; his brother, Dale (Tina); his uncles, Paul (Judy) and Henry; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews; and his beloved cat, Mittens.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Ruby (Mehner) Hurst; his brother, Randy Hurst; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; and a nephew.

A celebration of Daniel’s life will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026 with a visitation at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road, Joliet from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday, October 9, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service to be held in the funeral home chapel at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Joliet.