Daniel L. Drinkman

Died: Saturday, August 23rd, 2025

Funeral Service: 3:00 pm on Friday, August 29, 2025, at Hope United Methodist Church (2233 Golf Road in Eau Claire) with Pastors Jen Barnet and Robb McClintock officiating

Visitation: 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Friday at the church

Interment will be at a later date

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Daniel LeRoy Drinkman, age 65, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, passed away Saturday, August 23, 2025, at his home surrounded by the family he loved so dearly.

Dan was born on October 8, 1959, to LeRoy and Marlys (McClelland) Drinkman in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He graduated from Memorial High School in 1978 and then attended Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire for Business Agriculture. Dan married Tricia Flaherty on April 30, 1982, and to this union Alyssa was born. They later divorced. On May 10, 1997, he married the love of his life, Kathy Kidrick.

Dan grew up on the family farm, Drinkman Dairy, in the town of Pleasant Valley. He loved working on the farm and caring for his cows. He had his own herd of cows at the age of 18. After leaving the farm, Dan took a new career path and drove delivery truck for various companies. He drove for Mack Trucking, Chaput Produce, Gordy's, GRS, and Blue Northern where he delivered milk to area schools and would get such a kick out of the children that would greet him during his deliveries. After retiring from trucking, he worked for AMPI in Jim Falls where he worked with a close-knit group of great co-workers and enjoyed learning the many ways of cheese making.

Dan enjoyed working on small projects in the shed, woodworking, snowmobiling in the winter, and every summer looked forward to growing a large garden. He especially enjoyed growing garlic and dedicated a separate garden for it.  Music was also meaningful to Dan. He loved to dance and was a very talented musician. His talents included playing the accordion, banjo, and harmonica. While he didn't like playing in front of people, he enjoyed playing for family, a few close friends, and for his dogs Moose and Lulu. Lulu would sing as loud as he would play.

Dan was a man of faith who looked forward to going to church on Sunday morning and visiting with the congregation. He went on church mission trips to West Virginia, Texas, Colorado, and Arkansas with his son Dustin and grandson Harley and to Ontario, Canada with his step-daughter Angie. Camping, building forts, and traveling were also great adventures and created fun stories to tell. He also looked forward to taking trips to Georgia to visit his daughter Alyssa and granddaughter Nakiah.

Above all, family was incredibly important to Dan. He kept a good balance between working hard and spending quality time with family on birthdays and holidays. He also took time to help anyone in need and had the gift of making them feel like family.

Upon retirement, Dan took on the long journey of cancer. After his diagnosis, he explored ways to heal his body, up until the Lord took him home.

He survived by his wife of 28 years, Kathy; daughter, Alyssa Drinkman (Edward Nabangi) of Conyers, Georgia; son, Dustin (Samantha) Drinkman of Eleva and step-children, Jessica Nichols of Eau Claire, Jonathon Nichols of Chippewa Falls, Angela (Paul) Carriere of Augusta; bonus daughter, Christina (Adam) Bauer of Durand; 17 grandchildren; father, LeRoy Drinkman (Joyce Sobotta); special niece, Kari Flaherty of La Crosse; sister, Joan (David) Bartz of Downing; and brother, Darrell (Tiffany) Drinkman of Eau Claire; special friends, Don & Sandy Johnson of Eau Claire and Galen Scheuermann of Elk Mound; along with aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.

Dan was preceded in death by his mother, Marlys Drinkman; step-mother, Alice Drinkman; maternal grandparents, Ivan and Dorothy (Annis) McClelland; and paternal grandparents, Clarence and Hazel (Lockwood) Drinkman.