Caesar L. Dannels

January 16, 1971 - August 27, 2011 "The Fisherman" Caesar Lee Dannels was born on January 16, 1971 as the second of three children, three boys. Paul was Caesar's older brother, and Jon was Caesar's younger brother. These brothers were born to the union of Leonard and Dorothy Dannels. Caesar was born in Arvada, Colorado and lived there virtually all of his life. He worshipped at Arvada Presbyterian Church (APC) from 1982 until his untimely death on August 27, 2011. Caesar's schooling took place in Arvada including Arvada High School. How was it decided that the Caesar's title would be "the Fisherman?" If you knew Caesar almost one iota, then the answer would be apparent and you wouldn't have to ask for those of us who may not have been fortunate enough to know that about Caesar, shame, shame, shame! When reflecting on Caesar's brief life, it became very apparent that Caesar was, from a very young age, an avid, true and passionate fisherman! From the time when the boys' dad Leonard taught Caesar to fish (Caesar was five years old at the time), Caesar was "hooked!" Fishing quickly became a passion of Caesar's! As his mother and father will tell you, whenever they couldn't locate Caesar, the first thing that came to their minds is that Caesar must be fishing somewhere! But where? Well...as Caesar let them know in words and actions, "I just love fishing!" On several occasions, Leonard and Dorothy would look for Caesar, and they knew that he wasn't getting into trouble, he was "just fishing"....somewhere! Well...on some of those "just fishing" occasions, as Leonard and Dorothy will tell you, Caesar was found to be fishing on someone else's private property! When mom and dad would scold Caesar for being on someone else's private property (when they finally found him!), he would reply, "but I was just fishing"--and I caught a big one! That boy! He just loves fishing! You probably know where this is heading, but, yet, Caesar was found to be fishing on some else's private property on more than just one occasion, let's just say that it happened on "several" occasions -- sometimes being nightfall before he found his way home! Over the years of Caesar's childhood, the Dannels family took many fishing expeditions and it was one of those expeditions that Caesar's younger brother, Jon, Dad Leonard and Caesar began having fishing competitions that became a family tradition. Caesar took delight in all of those expeditions and the fishing competitions, but he was never so satisfied as he was when he went on his own "just fishing" outings. Caesar sought his own happiness, contentment and solitude and he seemed to find it when he was "just fishing." Fishing was just one of Caesar's passions throughout his life. As Caesar grew, he became known as a quick learner, creative, neat (almost compulsively so!), perfectionistic, passionate, generous, outgoing, orderly, and e had warmth-of-heart as well as strength-of-character. Caesar's brothers will tell you just how much warmth Caesar has in his heart, just ask them--but make sure that you don't mention when the boys were "just being boys!" Caesar, like any of three brothers, could be ornery, sneaky and downright mean! He probably got the best of his brothers on many occasions! They will probably tell you that although he was combative with them, he was very protective and even more combative and fierce in protecting them! Nobody "gets your back" like blood, like a brother, right, Caesar? Caesar had strong relationships with his brothers. He had a friendship with his older brother, Paul. When they were being brothers and befriending each other, things were real good. But, there were other times, like when Caesar was using his brother's head for rock target practice! Paul remembers that! Aside from being with family, Caesar's outgoing and friendly manner endeared him to people in general and schoolmates in particular. He made friends quickly. the friendships that he developed with schoolmates had to be "on Caesar's terms!" With his charm and charisma, Caesar quickly became regarded as a ring-leader! Caesar would be in his friends' corners, but he fully expected his friends to be in his corner, too! On one such occasion when Caesar was 17, he rounded up his friends and planned a house party - unbeknownst to his parents! Caesar, being the ring-leader and a few of his schoolmate friends decided to invite many, many students to the party. Fun was being had and plenty of noise was being made - until dad and mom returned home that evening! My gosh, kids were everywhere, I mean everywhere! Once dad and mom entered the front door and the kids saw their faces, kids began to get out of the house any way that they could! the telling part about this event was not that Caesar had taken his sweet little time to clear the house of most of the family furniture and possessions so that it wouldn't be damaged by the partiers, but that, but truth be known, Caesar charged his over 200 friends to attend the party! Can you say "entrepreneur?" As Caesar grew, he developed more passions. Over his short life, Caesar not only maintained his passion for "just fishing", but became passionate about playing soccer, cooking, decorative rug-making, camping, 4-wheeling, riding ATVs, bike riding and rock-climbing. Can you say "outdoorsman?" During his adolescent years, Caesar was somewhat thought of as a cat having 9 lives because of some of his escapades. On one occasion, Caesar was in a rolled Jeep, but just sustained minor scratches. On another occasion, Caesar was driving a car over a railroad track, but the tail end of the car had not cleared the tracks when the train arrived to smash the car's tail end! Again, Caesar was made out okay! Whew! The last occasion is when Caesar ran an ATV into the side of a house. It was said that the bricks on the side of the house showed Caesar's silhouette! This time, Caesar sustained injuries that might have been far worse were it not for someone watching out for him! Following these occasions and as Caesar continued to pursue his career ambitions, he propelled himself from Carpet Laying to Carpet and Flooring Sales, from Warehouseman to Warehouse Manager, from Facilities Operations to Facilities and Building Automation to Employee Training to Business Improvement. Caesar's career advancements were attributable to his hard-working work ethic, his organizational commitment and his pursuit of perfection. His supervisors could always depend on Caesar's punctuality, his maturity, his diligence and his pursuit of perfection with any job that he was doing. Caesar realized that any job that he did ultimately reflected on Caesar. If for no other reason, his jobs had to be the best for that reason alone. In 1998, Caesar was blessed with the best and most significant of blessings from the Lord: a child that Caesar named Nicole Dawn Dannels. From the moment of her birth, Nicole instantly became the motivating force in Caesar's life. Like parents worship their children, Caesar worshipped Nicole. He wanted more for Nicole than he had himself gotten in his lifetime. He worked to make that happen. Caesar decided to further his education to be better able to provide for Nicole. Caesar enrolled in Westwood College in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Design and Maintenance, a field in which Caesar had a deep interest. But, true to Caesar's personality, he not only wante3d to enter the HVAC field, but he chose to pursue Commercial HVAC studies. He excelled in this area or endeavor, such that Caesar was quickly hired upon completing his coursework. Caesar became certified in this area and bore the title HVAC/R (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Technician. Caesar was highly-recruited because of his expertise in this area. On one occasion, Caesar was recruited and paid to complete a refrigeration job that a property owner had been unable to have completed by local technicians. Because of Caesar's professional abilities and because of a personal referral, Caesar was taken to Burlington, Colorado to begin the project. Within two hours from the beginning of the project, Caesar had diagnosed, re-designed and completed the required repairs of the two commercial refrigeration units. To say that Caesar was an "expert" in the field is truly an understatement! Way to go, Caesar! Let's not forget the point of all of Caesar's accomplishments since 1988 was Nicole Dawn. From the time of her birth in 1998, Caesar became motivated because of his daughter, Nicole. Caesar and Nicole were, at times, inseparable. When they weren't inseparable, it was just because of the "rigors of Life" required it, but know that Caesar took being a father very seriously. He knew the importance of a father's presence. He made the unpopular decisions that fathers must make) and that you child/children may not understand, but that they will someday make as a parent). Caesar knew the gravity of being a parent. When Caesar and Nicole were together, they could be found bike-riding, watching video movies, playing video games, playing games, swimming, going out to eat, getting haircuts together (on a monthly basis) and cooking together. Caesar and Nicole had a "special" recipe that they immensely enjoyed cooking: Hot Wings--Ummmm! Those times together for Caesar and Nicole were too few and too brief. From a parent's perspective, times with Caesar are too fleeting. Among other things, Caesar's mother will reflect on and miss her "middle" son sitting on the sofa together, watching the news and sharing "life stories" together every evening. Caesar's mother will also miss Caesar's Chili-Making and looking for the "right" chilies! Caesar's mother will miss the fact that Caesar never missed getting her a Mother's Day gif, regardless of how tough things may have gotten for him. Caesar's mother will forever cherish the "Coffin" table that Caesar made for her as a Mother's Day gift. Caesar's mother will just miss her Caesar very dearly and Caesar longingly. Caesar's father will miss, among many things, having his "middle" son to go fishing with and the fishing competition that they continued after Jon moved to Wyoming. Dad, Leonard, and Caesar had competitions for not only who would catch the most fish, or who would catch the largest fish, but also for who would catch the smallest fish! Caesar's father will also miss his "middle" son would never forget to show his appreciation on Father's Day. Things that we will all reflect on with Caesar's life are how Caesar relaxed at the end of a hard day, how he relaxed by stretching out on the sofa, by taking long walks, by watching television, how he counseled friends and family when needed, and by..."just Fishing." Caesar relaxed in such ways as to make even the strongest of us envious of how he would regenerate following his relaxation periods. Caesar's final relaxation has now begun. We will all miss Caesar. Thank you, Caesar, for honoring us all with your presence and with knowing you. Thank you for what you have taught us. Caesar is survived by his parents, Leonard and Dorothy Dannels, his daughter Nicole Dawn Dannels, his older brother, Paul Dannels, and his younger brother, Jon Dannels(Kim), his niece Alexandria Dannels, nephews, Michael Dannels and Camden Dannels. Further, Caesar is survived by and leaves to cherish his memory many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and many, many friends. Services will be held September 9, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Arvada Presbyterian Church.