Daniel Eugene Dirig, 72, of rural Columbia City, died peacefully at 1:53 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Coventry Meadows Nursing Home, Fort Wayne, where he had been a resident for the past two weeks.

Born on May 18, 1951, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was a son of John A. and Ruth M. (Alter) Dirig. He grew up in Fort Wayne, completing St. Jude Elementary School and graduating from Bishop Dwenger in 1969. He became a tool and die maker.

On May 7, 1977, he married Barbara E. Stephens. They made their first home in Fort Wayne, later moving to Loon Lake, Columbia City.

He began his career as a tool and die maker at AMT in Fort Wayne, then XY Tool and Die. Later he moved to RUJA Tooling, Columbia City, and then Micropulse, Columbia City, where he retired with ten years of service.

At the lake, he enjoyed boating and water skiing. In his leisure time, he liked woodworking, building furniture, wood chest, and woodcrafts. In his younger years, he was an accomplished drummer playing with area rock and bands.

Surviving is his wife of 46 years, Barbara; children, Amanda (Charles) Walker of Pioneer, OH, Paul (Mollie) Dirig of Columbia City, Elizabeth (Brad) Landis of Kendallville, and John Dirig of Columbia City; ten grandchildren; and siblings, Jerry (Barbara) Dirig of Fort Wayne, Richard (Becky) Dirig of Auburn, Tom (Pat) Dirig of Marion, Robert (Susie) Dirig of Boise, ID and Marilyn (Scott) Kopecky of Fort Wayne.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Peggy Stookey.

The funeral service is 7 p.m. Friday, June 2nd, at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Visitation is from 4 p.m. until the service Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials in Daniel's honor are to the Alzheimer's Association.