Kentwood, MI - DANIEL H. (DAN) OCHARZAK, 90, of Kentwood, Mich., passed away unexpectedly in his sleep, on the morning of March 19, 2025. Dan was born at home Feb. 24, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was the third son of Bernard J. and Jane M. (Wasneski) Ocharzak. As a young boy, Dan attended Guardian Angel School, where he received The American Legion Certificate of School Award, from Langley Post 496, West End. He graduated from Langley High School, where he excelled academically and was an all-around athlete, lettering in basketball, baseball, track and field.

After high school, Dan volunteered for the Air Force as a serviceman in support of Strategic Air Command, during the Korean War. He spent time in Germany and French Morocco. As fate would have it, he was stationed at Kincheloe AFB in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where he played basketball for three years. He was recruited by Hornets coach Ronald "Bud" Cooper of Michigan Technological University, Sault Branch, selected as captain, and helped lead the Hornets to successful basketball seasons. Dan was a competitor, he held various team scoring records during his time at SOO TECH. He received the Cliff Everrett award twice, awarded to the school's most outstanding male student athlete, on and off the court. In 1995, he was inducted into Lake Superior State University's Inaugural Hall of Fame Class for basketball, track and field.

It was during his time at Lake Superior that Dan met the girl next door, Shirley Brumwell, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. They were united in marriage Sept. 2, 1961 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, in Sault Ste. Marie. The young couple would start a family while in Battle Creek, where Shirley was teaching and move to Kalamazoo. Dan would complete his MBA at Western Michigan University. After graduation, he accepted a position with the United States federal government, at the Department of Labor, as an investigator in Traverse City, Mich.

Continuing his path with the federal government, He was transferred to Grand Rapids, where he was named Area Director for the Department of Labor Grand Rapids, Wage-Hour Division, in 1980. Dan would head the Wage and Hour Division, which oversees the federal government's enforcement of Child Labor Laws and Fair Labor Practices. He remained with the Grand Rapids Office of the Department of Labor until his retirement as Area Director (2004). As an extension of his government service, he served as a board member of Grand Rapids Federal Credit Union for many years, where he was elected and served as Chairman of the Board. Dan was able to help steward the organization that serviced thousands of Federal Employees in the Greater Grand Rapids Area.

During his time in Traverse City and the Upper Peninsula, Dan nurtured his appreciation and love of the outdoors, where he continued family traditions. He introduced his three sons to some of his favorite pastimes including hiking and fishing remote Danny's Lake in Lake Superior Provincial Forest. Whether fishing for brook trout, steelhead, chinook salmon or picking wild blueberries in Hiawatha National Forest, Dan was truly at home in "God's Country" as he would often remind us. Dan cherished the time and ability to travel with his wife Shirley and family to their home in Sault Ste. Marie. He was always up for a trip to the SOO, the family's home away from home.

As lifelong Laker Blueliners and season ticket holders, Dan and Shirley often took road trips with a small and dedicated group to watch the Laker Icers play hockey, across The United States. His loyalty to Lake Superior State University has remained steadfast. The many treasured friendships, laughs, and memories made over the years are too numerous to count. Other activities Dan enjoyed with family and friends included fishing trips to Alaska, deer camp in Nirvana, basketball, racquetball, playing catch in the backyard and coaching his three sons' little league baseball teams. He was active his entire life and enjoyed tending a large vegetable garden, well into his 80's.

Dan is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shirley of Kentwood, their three sons, Patrick William of Rochester, Mich., Daniel James(Qindan) of Cedarburg, Wisc., and David (Kelley) of Muskegon; grandchildren Emma, Matthew, Joshua, Kelsey, and Benjamin; nieces, nephews, and many wonderful family friends.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents Bernard J. Ocharzak, Jane M. Ocharzak, his brothers Bernard, and Richard, his father-in-law Walter D. Brumwell, his mother-in-law, Dorothy Brumwell.

A Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the repose of his soul will be offered at St. Sylvester's Church in the Brentwood borough of Pittsburgh at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28. (Joseph Ocharzak). Local memorial services are being planned for a later date at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Kentwood, and in the Upper Peninsula at Holy Name of Mary Parish Catholic Church in Sault Ste. Marie. Contributions may be made in Dan's name to Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.