He was born June 28, 1963 in Dunkirk, NY, son of the late Charles and Audrey (Theeke) Thies.

Daniel graduated from Fredonia Central School in 1981 and Erie 2 BOCES, Autobody and Collision. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of the SNI (Deer Clan).

Daniel worked as a First Mate on the Helen S. charter boat in Florida, an autobody-collision technician for Part Time Automotive in Silver Creek, and recently was a fleet maintenance mechanic for H. Olsen and Sons in Forestville, NY.

He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting, target shooting, fishing, camping, carpentry, home remodeling and building wooden model airplanes. He received numerous prizes for his autobody work on show cars. He processed deer, made sausage, canned and smoked fish and meat.

Daniel participated in demolition derbies for several years. His memberships included the Lake Shore Marine Corps, Sheridan, NY, Silver Creek VFW Post 6472 and the Sheridan VFW Post 6390. He played on a pool league team for each of these clubs for numerous years.

In his younger years, he was involved in 4-H and the Boy Scouts in Sheridan.

Survivors include his wife of 14 years, Christina (Burau) Thies; a son, Daniel C. Thies Jr; two sisters, Denise (Jeff) Seeley of Forestville, NY and Donna (Wayne Velzy) DeLong of Dunkirk, NY; a brother, David (Mary) Thies of Irving, NY; nine nieces, Ashley D’Amico, Christina DeLong, Katie Lynn Thies, Dylanne Seeley, Jessica and Megan Parker, Sarah and Stephanie Velzy and Devan Price; two nephews, Joshua Thies and Sean Price; several great nieces and nephews; a great-aunt, Betty Rogers Schindler of Lighthouse Point, Fla.; a goddaughter, Sabrina Seneca; and his cats, Simba and Garfield.

Friends may call at the Hole-Parker Funeral Chapel, 160 Central Ave., Silver Creek, NY today from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013 followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 165 Central Ave., Silver Creek, NY. Interment to follow in Good Shepherd Cemetery in Irving, NY.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Daniel C. Thies Jr. Educational Fund. Send donations to the SUNY Fredonia Federal Credit Union, G-139 Williams Center, Fredonia, NY 14063.

To send condolences, go to www.holeparker.com.