Sgt Daniel Durnell Hoeltzel passed away at the VA Long Beach Hospital after a year long battle with an aggressive cancer on September 2, 2023. Daniel was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 6, 1979.

Daniel was a joy as a child and was soon followed by his two younger brothers, Damon and David Hoeltzel. He was especially loved by his grandparents, Durn and Sue Hoeltzel and Jim and Ardith Jones. He enjoyed fishing and baking cookies with them. From his earliest days, Dan was quiet, respectful, and loved playing computer games. He was slow to learn to read but soon became an avid reader of politics and history.

Daniel graduated from Mona Shores High School in 1998. He always wanted to be a tank commander and joined the Army in 2001. His NATO assignment in Germany led to meeting his first true love Sondra Elbracht. He opposed the Iraq war but served honorably including 18 months in Tikrit. After three tours of duty in the Iraq war, he left the Army in 2011 and returned home with serious health issues and PTSD. He moved out west in 2018 to start over and become a truck driver. He found joy in the job through photography of beautiful locations across the county (posted as Dieter Hoeltzel). He was supported out west by good friends John Chuba and Monica Jessey.

He is sorely missed and will be remembered as a loving son, brother and uncle. We will miss our time with him talking about politics and playing games.

Daniel is survived by his parents, Bob & Debbie Hoeltzel of Englewood, FL, brother Damon (Jen) Hoeltzel of Norton Shores, MI, niece Julie Hoeltzel of Norton Shores, and nephews Dylan & Logan Hoeltzel, also of Norton Shores, Uncles Durnell Hoeltzel and Doug (Chris) Jones, and Aunt Diane (Eric) Fernius.

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