Daniel E. Ittershagen, a devoted family man, passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on December 1, 2023, surrounded by the love of his family. Known for his unwavering dedication to those he held dear, Daniel’s life was a testament to hard work, love for his wife, and devotion to his family.
He grew up in Camden, in the middle of the Great Depression, with his parents and 4 siblings. He was an industrious child who sold newspapers and cigarettes on the street, and ran errands for his neighbors for pocket money. Later in his youth he worked the summers in Wildwood, and a few times he rode his bike to and from Wildwood in a 6-hour one-way journey.
As a young man he spent a few years in the Army. Once he was out, he met the love of his life at a social dance. They married quicky, honeymooned in Niagara, and started a family not long after. As a family man he had a strong sense of responsibility, and embraced the persona of a hard worker during his career as a tool and die maker. He took pride in the amount of overtime he worked, all to provide for his family, even at cost to himself. So that his family could live lakeside in the Poconos for a time, in a home where friends and family visited constantly, he lived close to work during the week and made the hours-long trip back home every weekend.
Giving his kids and grandkids a good life and positive experiences were a priority. He made memories with each of them, taking his kids, their friends, and his nieces and nephews on outings to places like Surf City, the Poconos, Lake Wallenpaupack, Gettysburg, Washington Crossing, and his grandkids to places like the Camden Aquarium, the Philadelphia Zoo, Sea Isle City.
As an older man, he and his wife enjoyed traveling for themselves, and would go down the shore, visited casinos, lighthouses, spent time at Sea Isle City, visited Williamsburg, and enjoyed dining out. When his wife took ill, he retired from his long career to dedicate his time to taking care of her until her passing.
He enjoyed walking even up through his older years, making Pennington Park his favorite regular stroll, as well as making himself a neighborhood fixture and a familiar face to his neighbors. He had a dry, yet cheeky and impish sense of humor and he loved being able to get a joke in and make people laugh. He loved music, ice cream and homemade meals, World War history, and maintaining his home with pride.
Daniel is survived by his children: Katrina (Lorrin) Kates, Daniel Ittershagen, and Stephen Ittershagen; grandchildren Jennifer (David Shapiro) Kates, Daniel Kates, Richard Barnoski, and Jonathan Barnoski; son in law Richard Barnoski; and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife Regina and daughter Regina Barnoski, his parents, and siblings, and was the last of his generation.
He will be missed by those whom he left behind.
Come celebrate 91 years on Friday 12:00 pm for at graveside service at Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.