November 7, 2008 (Updated November 10) -- GREENCASTLE, IND -- Col. Daniel Hovey Hanna, professor emeritus of music education and director emeritus of DePauw Bands, passed away on November 6. A Greencastle native graduated from DePauw with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1947 and 48, Hanna returned to his alma mater in 1953 after serving in the 624th Army Air Force Band in Hondo, Texas. During his 35-year DePauw tenure, Hanna established many traditions in the DePauw Marching Band and DePauw Pep Band which live on in today’s student-led Tiger Pep Band. He was also a consultant for the Tiger Alumni Bands and Stumblebums, the alumni organization for members of the DePauw Bands.

For more than 50 years, Hanna enriched and influenced lives at DePauw. Upon his retirement in 1988, he was awarded the DePauw Marching Band’s Tarnished Spitvalve Award. Later, in 2005, Prof. Hanna became one of just four individuals to be honored by the Tiger Alumni Bands with the rank of Colonel of the Tiger Pep Band, in recognition of his life-long contribution to the DePauw Bands. Hanna’s Tiger Spirit will live forever as long as students grace the campus, fans cheer for our Old Gold teams, and there is a band playing “Here’s to DePauw.”   He was 84, and is survived by his wife Virginia, son Steve, daughter Sandy, sister Lila Manhart, and by his Tiger family, including dozens of loving colleagues and former students.

Here'stew DePauw, and Here'stew you, Dan. We will miss you. May your Tiger Spirit always inspire us.

Arrangements and Dedications

Visitation at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle will be from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on, Sunday, November 11.  Funeral services will also be at Bittles and Hurt at 11:00 AM on Veterans' Day, Monday, November 12.  Mrs. Hanna invites former students and marching band members to attend. 

TABS and TPB members will wear a gold ribbon on the right side of their uniforms through the remainder of the 2007-2008 season.

The November 10 performance by the Tiger Pep Band and the Tiger Alumni Bands at the 114th Battle for the Monon Bell against Wabash College is dedicated to his honor.

The DePauw University Band will present a memorial concert on Sunday, November 18 at 3:00 PM, in Kresge Auditorium of the Green Center for Performing Arts, accompanied by a special exhibit in the Great Hall.

Memorial Guestbook, Condolences, and Contributions

• View or Sign the Memorial Guestbook
  
• Send Private Condolences to Dan Hanna's Family
• Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity.

Additional Items

• Obituary Appearing on the DePauw University Website, including photos and video
• Obituary Appearing in the Banner Graphic, Greencastle

Photo Highlights from Col. Hanna's Tenure

Photos from the personal album of Col. Dan Hanna, scanned by Daniel Reck '03.  2005 photos by Marilyn Culler.