Daniel Earl Kyle was a lifelong resident of Clermont and Minneola Florida from June 23, 1950 until January 9, 2026. He passed quickly and unexpectedly.
Dan grew up in Clermont and graduated from Clermont High School in 1968. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from FTU, now UCF, while working at the Cape. After college Dan started writing songs and performing on what he called his “magic guitar”, an old 12 string Yamaha. He always said his best gig was at Lee and Ricks Oyster Bar, where he got paid $50 and all of the oysters he could eat. He never stopped making music, even when he started spending his days as a carpenter, eventually specializing in custom staircase construction.
Dan became the love of Dennise Judy’s life in 1991, they married and he became a familyman- a role he was made for. He instantly had a teenage son and a large extended family, which he loved. He was an excellent father and delighted in becoming a grandfather. When granddaughter, Violet, started talking they became Denni and PaDanny. Dan especially loved writing and singing as PaDanny and has an amazing unheard repertoire of children’s music.
After Denni retired they became serious about road trips. Dan customized a van to give them a rolling bedroom, designed and built a camp kitchen where he created fabulous food for so many people. They travelled all over, with Denni driving backroads and Dan playing the ukelele.
Dan always identified himself as a Maker. He believed in creating with his hands and his heart, whether that meant music shared with friends, stories told around a table, meals made with care, or objects built to last. He found joy in figuring things out, fixing what was broken, and leaving things better than he found them. His creativity, curiosity, and gentle nature shaped the lives of those around him, and his work—both seen and unseen—will continue to live on through the people he loved.
Dan was the beloved husband of Dennise Judy, loving father of Leathers Hewett, devoted grandfather of Violet and his bonus grandsons Phoenix and his mother, Keenya; and Corbin, Dax, Rylan and their mother, Dana. He is survived by his brothers, Mark and Bill, and his sister, Kitty.
Dan built a life filled with love, music, and meaning. A celebration of Dan’s life will be held on February 21, 2026 from 2-6pm at 334 12th St. Clermont, FL.
