John "Dan" Phelan

John Daniel Phelan, of Orange, California, a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and
grandfather, passed away peacefully in his home on June 4, 2024 at the age of 92.
Called “Dan” from his youth, he was born in Los Angeles in 1931 the youngest of five
children to Edward and Helen Phelan. He grew up on a citrus farm in Whittier,
California, attended Bellarmine College Preparatory and then Loyola University in Los
Angeles.
Dan first worked in sales, selling tractor replacement parts for Caterpillar Machinery and
then forklifts and batteries for Clark Equipment. His sales territory included the Eastern
Sierras from Reno to Bishop. He arranged sales calls at Mammoth and Bishop for later
in the week so he could spend his weekends climbing or skiing Mammoth Mountain
depending on the season.
Dan started his own business in the early 1970’s doing repair work with wife, Martha,
providing office support. Known as “Dan the Handyman,” he obtained his general
contractor’s license and did plumbing, carpentry and other repair jobs until he found his
niche specializing on garage doors. For 46 years, he operated “Phelan Door” servicing
and installing garage doors throughout Orange County, often taking one or two of his
children on jobs to help. As he aged, he skillfully developed new techniques and tools
to help him lift and maneuver the heavy doors. He “officially” retired at the age of 85 in
order to care for Martha full time the few years prior to her death. He left his mark on
Orange County as many homeowners can still find his business sticker affixed to their
garage door.
Dan loved the outdoors and was an avid farmer, camper and fisherman. He had a green
thumb as everything he planted produced abundantly. He generously shared the
bounty of his summer gardens and various fruit trees with family and friends. He grew
staples of his childhood – tomatoes, avocados, lemons, limes - and Martha’s beloved
persimmon tree. Each spring he asked his children what they wanted to eat that
summer and always planted it along with some new, exotic fruit or vegetable that no
one had ever heard of. He mastered growing bananas, pummelos, dragon fruit, okra
and last summer Carolina Reaper chilies, one of the hottest in the world. Frequently
asked “why” he grew these things, he would reply “Why not? It’s something new to
experience.” His fishing expeditions yielded almost as much as his garden. Several
deep sea fishing trips netted a truck bed of Albacore which he and Martha cleaned and
canned at their home. He took his family on many vacations to the National parks. In
his early 80’s, he researched and planned camping trips for he and his Church buddies
at lesser known national and state parks, including eating and site-seeing stops along
the way. His most recent trips were to Whitefish, Montana in 2022 and Cottonwood,
Arizona in 2023.
Dan’s greatest achievement was raising five children with Martha and mentoring them,
their eleven grandchildren and many other “adopted” sons, daughters and grandchildren

through the years. He was a leader in the Holy Family Church community, teaching a
7 th grade CCD class with Martha for several years, volunteering at the Fiesta, and was a
daily communicant until he stopped driving in 2023. Dan was involved with Orange
County Cursillo for almost 50 years, inviting and sponsoring many to make a Cursillo
weekend retreat and proud that all five of his children are Cursillistas. He led by
example in how to live with integrity, work hard, love deeply and always stay close to
and practice one’s Catholic faith.
Dan is preceded in death by Martha, his wife of 57 years. He is survived by his five
children Sharon (Vince) Salle of Corona, Carrie (Deacon William) Weeks of Tustin, Noreen
Phelan of Pittsburgh, Bonnie (Michael) Beerer of Orange, and Timothy (Patricia) Phelan of
Kelowna, B.C., his eleven grandchildren: Matthew, Steven and Luke Salle; Maria, Angelica,
Elise and Anthony Phelan; John Paul, Joseph and Peter Beerer; and Brendan Weeks; and
sister Patricia Kelly.
Services will be:  Wednesday, June 26, 2024 - Visitation with open casket viewing from 5:30
pm to 6:30 pm followed by Prayer Vigil at 6:30 pm at St. Cecilia Church, 1301 Sycamore
Ave., Tustin, CA. Funeral Mass will be Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy
Family Cathedral, 566 S. Glassell Street, Orange, CA.

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