Daniel M. Nihles

Linden / Highland – Daniel Nihles, age 31, of Linden, formerly of Highland passed away March 23, 2023. Daniel was truly a one of a kind man and was always willing to put others needs before his own, to say he had a big heart would be an understatement. Daniel or as most called him Danny was truly a family man and if you were one of his people you knew you were taken care of. The only thing that Danny loved more than his wife, children and family was driving truck. Driving truck almost called to him and he loved the open road and the freedom of not having to look at the same four walls everyday truly brought him joy. Danny got his CDL and started driving truck in 2020 and he was so happy that he finally got to drive truck like his dad and his older brother. Danny started off driving truck for Lyne Haul and then moved on to Hurst Logistics, first in Lancaster and the to Dubuque where he started driving over the road. Danny and his wife Melissa meet while they both worked at Cummins in 2013, he on 3rd shift and her on days. Melissa would work overtime and come in early and normally ended up in Danny's department and she spent quite a while trying to get him to talk while he was stuck with her for the last 2 hours of his shift, most of the time he walked away when she had her back turned and left her talking to herself but she still kept trying to talk to him because she hoped he would eventually let her get to know him. Danny did end up leaving Cummins and was employed with Chief's Pumping. During this time is where he and Melissa truly connected, and nobody ever saw it coming. With his job he was in a tractor most of the day nowhere near a gas station and everyone knew he was rarely prepared at that point in his life. Danny of course didn't bring a lunch like usual and had put on snapchat that he wanted someone to bring him some food and of course Melissa wasn't about to let anyone be hungry if she could help it and she set off to bring him some food which started off as a pizza and turned into a can of chew and a Mtn. Dew. That night was just supposed to be about a delivery and then go home but they spent hours in that tractor talking and sparks flew from there and from that moment you couldn't keep the two apart. For both of them, it was like the stars had aligned and they both found there forever. Melissa had children from her previous life and Danny accepted them as his own like nothing and he has been daddy to them since. Danny and Melissa also had children together. Anyone that truly knew Danny never expected him to truly grow up and do much with his life but he did it. He and Melissa had a short engagement and were married September 19, 2015 at Blackhawk Lake, a spot that truly brought them joy and were they and their children spent a lot of time fishing, usually they spent time drowning worms and picking on each other, which is truly most of what their relationship consisted of. In 2020 Danny and Melissa purchased a house together, another feat that very few have expected and turned it into a home. Danny passed doing what he loved in Snowshoe PA at a rest area, his cause of death is listed as a pulmonary embolism. He was preceded in death by his father Roger Nihles, Mother Dawn (Anderson) Nihles. Danny leaves behind his wife Melissa Nihles; 5 children Paxton Nihles, Avalyn Nihles, Brennan Patterson, Nina Moore and Taryn Preston all of Linden; his Brothers Andy Lyon and Doug Nihles; his sister Becky Anderson; and a very large family and group of friends. Danny was the one person that truly would make everyone's day better and would stay up all night talking to a fellow driver just to make sure they make they made it to their drop in one piece, he was truly a hero in his own way. A Public Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville. In lieu of flowers, a gofundme has been set up for the family @ https://www.gofundme.com/f/daniel-nihles-memorial?utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined&fbclid=IwAR3_E2eWfEWM-LK5VywInCsC1lpo76jiCYhvM3WvacIz74k5UBtcOYJKNWQ as well as a Venmo @Melissa-Nihles

Daniel M. Nihles

February 6, 1992 - March 23, 2023