Daniel S. Balogh, 80

November 28, 1942 - September 20, 2023

Daniel S. Balogh passed away on September 20, 2023, at Abbeyville Skilled Nursing facility. Dan was born in Garfield, NJ on November 28, 1942, to the late Daniel and Helen Balogh. He spent his teenage years in Garfield, but in 1960 at age 17, he enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam era since the Navy recruiter was out of his office at lunch. He thoroughly enjoyed Army life. He met and married his former wife, Carol, who was also in the Army. They married in Idaho, one of the few states that did not require parental consent, since they both were only twenty years old. Next, they were stationed in California, where his daughter Cathy was born, and in Alaska where his son Mike was born, and finally to the East coast where his youngest daughter Tammy was born. Dan was honorably discharged in 1969 with many commendations at the rank of Sergeant First Class. Dan remembered many old-timers in the Army, some with 25 years of service or more, who were angry because they had not attained Dan’s rank after only eight years. When Dan left the Army, he and Carol moved their family to New Haven, CT, where Dan worked for the U.S. Postal Service for two years. He remembered walking to work there every night seeing the many protests by Yale College students against the Vietnam war, the smell of tear gas in the air, and many soldiers posted on street corners. Next Dan moved to Pennsylvania where he was employed at Three Mile Island, as a security guard at Franklin and Marshall, and eventually retired from the School District of Lancaster after 25 years of service there. It was during that employment he met his current wife Rita (Reetie), and they celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary on September 12. Rita was Dan’s angel, and he could never express enough appreciation to her for standing by his bedside during many surgeries, hospitalizations, and recovery from a major stroke.

Dan will always be remembered as a kind, funny, caring, and gentle man, contributing to many charities and as a Hospice volunteer. He was an avid Democrat, believing it is the government’s responsibility to provide funding and support for the poor, the unemployed, and especially for senior citizens. Dan was a loyal Yankees baseball and Notre Dame and Washington football fan. His favorite hobby was collecting only Lionel trains, believing all other brands were inferior. Dan retired a few years before his wife did, but during his retirement they enjoyed spending time together. They traveled to Hungary and Ireland.

Dan is survived by his angel Rita, daughter and son-in-law Cathy and Mike Mull of Holtwood, son and daughter-in-law Mike and Jasmina Balogh of Beaverton, OR, daughter and son-in-law Tammy and Ron Stark of East Petersburg, son Scott Wellenreiter of Lancaster, and daughter Laura George of Columbia. Also surviving are grandchildren Seth, Colin, Maddie, Derrick, Marko, Steven, Carson, a great-grandchild, Avah, and a nephew, Zoltan Farkas. He was pre-deceased by his parents and sister, Margaret (Peggy) Smoker.

A closed casket visitation will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2023, beginning at 11:00 am, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 noon at Charles F. Snyder III Funeral Home, 2421 Willow Street Pike, Willow Street, PA. Interment with military honors will follow at Conestoga Memorial Park. Memorial contributions in Dan’s name may be made to Hospice & Community Care, LCBC Church, or a favorite charity of your choosing.