Dannie J Risley, 82, of Brandon , FL , formerly of Harwich, MA and Santa Claus, IN, peacefully passed away on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

Born on November 10, 1937 in Velpen, IN, he was the eldest son of parents William and Mary (DeMotte) Risley. He graduated from Otwell High School in 1955, and attended Purdue University where he graduated with a B.S. in Agriculture Education. He commissioned as an Army 2LT, Transportation Corp. via Purdue’s ROTC program.

Dannie honorably served as a Transportation Officer with his military assignments taking him to many places all over the world including France, Germany, Japan, many U.S. states, and two tours of Vietnam. He retired as a LTC after 26 years of service in 1986. He then worked as a Manager, Budgetary Counseling for Navy Federal Credit Union, and retired in 2003.

Dannie cherished gardening, home projects, traveling all over the U.S. and Europe, and valued spending time with friends and family, and his adorable little Shih Tzu, Patches.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of over 62 years, Linda (Miles); daughters Dana Risley of Arlington, MA and her two children Sam and Kate Miano; and Melissa Matos (Michael), of Lithia, FL and her two children Andrew and Mia Matos. In addition, he is also survived by his sisters Ruth (Jerry) Pride, Martha Risley, Mary Katherine “Kate” (Gary) Williams, brother John (Suzanne) Risley, brother and sister-in-law Darrel and Betty Jenkins, and many nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral and burial services will be at Arlington National Cemetery, VA at a later date to be determined by military protocol.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

National Park Foundation
Attn: Gift Processing
P.O. Box 17394
Baltimore, MD 21298-9450
https://give.nationalparks.org

Freedom Service Dogs of America
7193 S. Dillon Ct.
Englewood, CO 80112
https://freedomservicedogs.org