Daniel Anthony Cooney

Daniel Anthony Cooney passed away peacefully on March 17, 2025, at the age of
90. Dan was born to Irish American parents James Cooney and Mary Zita (Cull)
Cooney in Chicago Heights, IL on August 31, 1934. As a child, Dan nearly lost
his life after contracting typhoid fever. Thanks to the action of Dan’s sister,
Marcella, a nurse, he survived and went on to attend Bloom Township High School
in Chicago Heights. Dan was an avid athlete, participating in football, basketball,
wrestling, and track & field. After graduating, Dan enlisted in the United States
Army and was stationed in Dachau, Germany. He served from 1953 to 1955 and
then remained in the Army Reserves until he was honorably discharged from
military service on July 31 st , 1961
After serving his country, Dan spent a brief time studying at the Abbey of
Gethsemani, a Trappist monastery in Kentucky. Admittedly, he had trouble
“cracking the books” and decided to pursue other options. Dan moved to Pueblo,
CO in 1961 and worked for his older brother, Thomas, at an A&W restaurant. In
1963, while working at A&W, Dan met his future wife, Gene Marie Davis. The
two were wed on May 23 rd , 1970, and moved to Cañon City, CO a few years later
where they raised their 4 children.
In 1972, Dan and Tom opened the KFC in Cañon City and Dan continued to work
there for over 25 years. In his free time, Dan enjoyed spending time at Holy Cross
Abbey where he kept horses and cows. He also loved keeping a tidy lawn and
spending time among his flowers, tomato plants, raspberry bushes, and fruit trees.
Dan was a devout Catholic who followed God’s plan and did the Lord’s work
happily. He loved all of God’s creatures, especially horses. He enjoyed watching
horse racing and was very proud of his own racehorse, Hail to Theresa. His sense
of humor, propensity for uncontrollable laughter, and habit of assigning nicknames
are just a few of the things for which Dan will be remembered. His passing on
Saint Patrick’s Day is particularly apt to those who knew him.
Dan is preceded in death by siblings James (Pat) and (Mary) Cooney, William
(Eileen) Cooney, Theresa Cooney, Marcella (Charles) Barbour, Rosemary (Robert)
Sauer, and Alice (Lute) Wassmann. Dan is survived by his wife Gene Marie
Cooney, children James (Tiffany) Cooney, Daniel Cooney, Helen Cooney and
Theresa Yates, grandchildren Connor, Kaelin, and Arthur and brother Thomas
(Mary) Cooney. A Requiem Mass will be held on Tuesday, May 13 th at 10 a.m. at
Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Cañon City. In lieu of flowers, please consider
donating to a charity of your choice.

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