Danny Carl Hawthorne

Danny C. Hawthorne, 79, of Imperial, Missouri, passed away on July 24, 2026.

Born in Belleville, Illinois, Danny was the oldest of three children born to the late Stanley and the late Shirley (Viehman) Hawthorne. Upon graduating from Belleville High School in June 1965, he proudly followed in his father’s footsteps by enlisting in the U.S. Navy.

Trained as a radioman and stationed out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Danny deployed to Vietnam aboard the USS Claud Jones and USS Vance between 1966 and 1969. He served two years as Radio Supervisor aboard the Vance, provided critical communications support to U.S. Navy SEAL teams during shore operations, and led the sensitive communications equipment removal during the ship's decommissioning. He was discharged honorably from active duty in September 1969 as a Petty Officer 3rd Class and discharged from the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Petty Officer 2nd Class in May 1971. Danny had enormous pride in his Navy service, which sparked an enduring patriotism and lifelong support for the U.S. armed forces.

Danny’s military communications background naturally laid the foundation for his civilian career in Information Technology, including two decades with A.G. Edwards Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri, before retiring in September 2008.

In 1989, Danny met the love of his life, Susan K. Ammerman. Over 37 devoted years together, Susan introduced him to the thrill of snow skiing and the rhythm of swing dancing. The couple exchanged vows at the summit of Aspen Mountain during a ski trip in February 1992. When he wasn't taking long motorcycle trips across the country with Susan or his friends, Danny was a talented woodworker who could be found puttering around the house on various carpentry projects or watching old Westerns. Danny and Susan had many treasured dogs throughout the years, the last their adored Cockapoo, Katie.

In 1996, Danny survived a life-altering motorcycle accident that resulted in quadriplegia. Despite the challenges that followed, his positive spirit never wavered, and, along with Susan’s steadfast support, his strength of character carried him through every day.

Danny is survived by his beloved wife, Susan; his three daughters with first wife Geraldine Gjerswald: Kimberly (Todd) Metze, Lori (Shane) Stewart, and Cindy (Scott) Beyer; four grandchildren: Garin Metze, Brandyn Tagg, and Sam and Olivia Beyer; three great grandchildren: Matilda and Kora Metze and Braxtyn Tagg; and his brother Jerry (Dorothy) Hawthorne and sister Sherry (Steve) Hargan; and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Shirley.

A service will be held at Ziegenhein Funeral Home, 4830 Lemay Ferry Rd, St. Louis, MO 63129 on Monday August 31, 2026 at 10:30 AM, with visitation to follow before leaving for Jefferson Barracks Cemetery at 12:00 PM for a Military Honors Ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the American Heart Association.