Daniel R. Patch, Jr

Dan was born and raised in Waukegan, Illinois and is a lifelong resident. He spent his life growing up around the funeral business learning from and being inspired by his father, Dan Patch Sr., to one day become a funeral director. Dan attended the College of Lake County and soon after graduated from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1995 and has since been employed by Peterson and Patch Funeral Home. His years dedicated to the funeral profession have given Dan the opportunity to fulfill his life passion serving the families of Lake County community.

In 2000 he served as the president of the City Club of Waukegan, and is currently a member of the Exchange Club, Waukegan Moose Lodge 706, and Knights of Columbus 731. Dan is also very involved with the Northeastern Illinois Funeral Directors Association, where he had served as president from 2004-2006. He is also a current member of both Illinois and National Funeral Directors Association.

In 2000, Dan married Michelle Miscenic of Waukegan, if you ask Dan who his celebrity crush, he will always say "My beautiful, talented, caring, amazing wife that puts up with me, Michelle." they currently have two children, Oliver and Cecilia and a grandson named Dean.

There was a famous pace horse named Dan Patch in the late 1800s early 1900 that held the world record for the 1/4 mile. So, when you see something named Dan Patch there is no relation. (Horse stable at Grand Geneva Resort, street off O'Plain Rd in Green Oaks, IL, there is even a movie called - The Great Dan Patch, not me, etc... When Michelle and Dan first got married, they were in Lake Geneva and went horseback riding at Dan Patch Stables, they asked for their IDs, and Dan remembers the lady looked at Dan's and lifting her head with a look on her face and said, “you are kidding me right?”

Dan isn't much of a dancer and there isn't any one song that would get him to the dance floor, "It’s Michelle dragging me onto the dance floor that gets me out there. Once I’m there it’s hard to get me off."

When asked - What song, or album, could you listen to on repeat? "I can go from Billy Joel, Elton John, Sublime to Kid Rock, I’m all over the place when it comes to music." If Dan could donate $1 million to any charity. he would choose - Disabled American Veterans. The worst haircut/hairstyle Dan has ever had? he responded with, "Mohawk mullet in 8th grade, but it was pretty cool!"

Dan is a Yogi!! Dan's career is very demanding and emotionally draining, it’s not a 9 to 5 it’s a 24/7 of dealing with death and the grieving. It’s never been easy for him to be able to focus on anything else without work on his mind. Santosha Yogo study has taught him that the 45 minutes/hour he can escape and think of nothing else but that time on his mat. Dan also enjoys attending sporting events and playing golf with his friends and family and traveling to Croatia, every year to visit family.

A message from Dan Patch, Jr. "Live life every day because every day is a gift."