Dionisio "Danny" Orteza

Dionisio "Danny" Orteza lived an incredible 101 years, and he was proud of every year he made it through. His life was filled with hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, and adventure, but more than anything, it was filled with family.

Danny was known by many names. To his children, he was Pops. To his grandchildren, he was Grandpa. To his great-grandchildren, he was Grandpapa. To his friends, he was Danny. No matter what you called him, he was hardworking, dependable, generous, and selfless.

Danny was always willing to help anyone around him. All you had to do was ask. He would have given you his last penny if it meant helping someone he cared about.

Born in Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines, Danny's life took him on a journey few could imagine. In 1946, determined to create a better life and opportunity for himself, he made the difficult decision to sell his family's water buffalo to help pay for his journey from the Philippines to Hawaii. Once there, he worked on the sugar plantations and began a new chapter in his life.

Later, Danny joined the United States Army and served during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Danny's time in the military was an important part of his life and a reflection of the strength and resilience he carried with him. He endured hardships that most of us can only imagine, including being wounded and spending more than two years as a prisoner of war. Yet through everything he experienced, Danny continued moving forward and eventually built a life filled with family, purpose, and love.

After retiring from the Army, Danny continued to work hard and later retired from the United States Post Office. Throughout the years, he also took on different jobs and always found ways to provide for and support his family.

He spent time working in the berry fields in Puyallup and could be found driving his children around as they delivered newspapers for the Tacoma News Tribune. Whether it was his career, an odd job, or simply helping his family, Danny was never afraid of hard work and always did what needed to be done.

Maybe that is why one of the things Danny was known for saying was, "Never give up." Those words reflected the way he lived his life. No matter what challenges came his way, he kept going. He also believed in treating others with kindness and generosity and often shared the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Danny loved telling stories about his life. His family heard stories about his experiences, the places he had been, and the many chapters that made up his 101 years. Through those stories, he shared pieces of himself with the people he loved, and those stories will continue to be told and remembered for years to come.

In his younger years, Danny loved woodworking and had a gift for building things with his own hands. Together with his wife and children, he helped build the family's cabin. Over the years, he built tables, swings, chairs, and countless other things. If there was something that needed to be built, chances are Danny could build it.

Danny showed his love in the ways he knew best: through his stories, his generosity, through helping whenever someone needed him, and by always making sure his family had what they needed. He did not need much to be happy. Having his family around him was what meant the most. That was all he ever really asked for.

Danny and his wife, Leonida, showed their family the meaning of unconditional love and the importance of family through their love for one another. Together, they built a life and family rooted in love, strength, and devotion.

Danny is survived by his beloved wife, Leonida, and four of his children, David, Daniel, Loida, and Douglas. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren, who will carry his stories, lessons, and memory with them. He was preceded in death by two of his sons, Dionisio Jr. and Dennis.

Danny lived through more than a century of history and experienced more in his lifetime than most people could ever imagine. But when his family thinks of him, they will remember more than the remarkable life he lived. They will remember the man who was always willing to help, who would give you his last penny, who loved telling stories, who could build just about anything, who worked hard to provide for his family, and who simply wanted his family close.

His legacy will live on through the stories he shared, the lessons he taught, the example he set, and the love he showed his family.