Dan Hilsheimer

Daniel Wayne Hilsheimer, born January 18, 1943, in Blackwell, Oklahoma, to George and LaNora Hilsheimer, passed away on August 2, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his family by his side, he was 81. After George's return from World War II, the family relocated to Tulsa in 1946. From an early age, Dan showed a profound passion for horses, beginning to ride at just six years old and winning his first competition at age eight. His enduring love for animals, particularly his beloved dogs, was a hallmark of his life. Dan attended Central High School in Tulsa, where he was a very good baseball player, and also a member of the basketball team coached by the legendary Eddie Sutton. He continued his education at Oklahoma State University (OSU), earning a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. At OSU, Dan was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity, eventually serving as President, and forming lifelong friendships and brotherhoods along the way.

During his time at OSU, Dan was in the Air Force ROTC, earning the title of Cadet of the Year, and secured his private pilot's license in his freshman year at OSU Flight School. It was at OSU that Dan met Shirley Dickerson, the Engineering Queen, and KA Rose, who became the love of his life. They married in 1965 and spent 59 wonderful and joyful years together.

After graduation, Dan served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, 138th Division in Tulsa, before joining Centerline Valve Company. There, he worked in sales and served as a corporate pilot, rising to the role of Vice President of Marketing for the US and Europe by 1968. Dan was a highly skilled and trusted pilot, with single-engine, multi-engine, and advanced instrument ratings. Dan flew extensively for many years for both business and pleasure.

In 1978, Dan left Centerline to co-found Power Dyne Incorporated with his father. The company initially specialized in valve components, and under Dan's leadership diversified into precision aerospace and industrial manufacturing and CNC machining. Dan became President of Power Dyne in 2004 and led the company until his retirement in 2019. A widely respected businessman and entrepreneur, Dan served on the Board of Directors for BancFirst in Sand Springs for more than a decade.

Dan was deeply committed to his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Order, where he served for decades in various leadership roles. Notably, he played a crucial role in restoring the fraternity's chapter at Oklahoma State in the 1990s, managing and negotiating housing agreements, and serving as an alumni advisor. His dedication earned him induction into the fraternity's Court of Honor, and in 2011 he was awarded the Knight Commander's Accolade, the highest honor an alumnus can receive.

To Dan family always came first. He loved watching ballgames with his family and rooting for his beloved OSU Cowboys. He cherished many wonderful family vacations, and fishing trips with his sons Chad and Mark at Bull Shoals Lake, a place he loved dearly. His grandchildren, Adam, Lauren, and Jake, were always a source of immense joy and pride for him. He loved having them around the house and attending their baseball and basketball games and other activities. Dan was a man of faith who served and loved his Lord Jesus Christ and was a long-time member of South Tulsa Baptist Church.

Dan is survived by his loving wife, Shirley, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; his sons, Chad and wife Christie of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Mark and wife Kirsten of Jenks, Oklahoma; his sister, Kitty Durkee, and husband Charles of Mansfield, Texas; his grandsons, Adam and Jake Hilsheimer; and his niece Katy Durkee of Fort Worth, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, his cherished granddaughter Lauren Elise, and his nephew Scott Durkee.

A visitation will be held on Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, and a funeral service will take place on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 11:30 am. Both events will be held at Schaudt's Glenpool-Bixby Funeral Service, 1329 East 151st, Glenpool, OK 74033. A reception will follow the services. Committal will be at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens in Broken Arrow, OK.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Funeral Service. Family and friends may send memories and condolences to the family online, www.schaudtfuneralservice.com

Memorial Donations can be made to L.E.M.F (Lauren Elise Memorial Foundation) supporting the fight to support awareness, research, diagnosis, and treatment of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) in children, and to provide for the care and well being of children affected with CHD and their families. CLICK HERE