DANIEL J. BANTLE    December 18, 2022

Beloved husband of Karen Bantle (nee Borgmann). Dearest father of Amy Bantle Monshausen, Stacey (Keith) Leahy, Timothy (Sara) Bantle, Emily (Ron) Stergion, Stephen (Amanda) Bantle, Matthew Bantle and the late Catherine Bantle. Loving grandfather of Jack, Grace, Stella and Carter Monshausen, Charlie and Lucy Leahy, Hunter and Ian Bantle, Brittain and Lilly Miner, and Sophia, Nora and Amelia Bantle. Dear brother of Karen (the late Jim) Lippert, Peggy (Mike) Denomme, Cynthia Sabatino, and the late Mary Jean Markham, and Michael Bantle. Our dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend.

If laughter is any measure of life, Dan Bantle lived the very best.

He was a South St. Louis Italian through and through, with a whole-hearted laugh and full head of naturally dark brown hair — even at 70 years old. A proud resident of The Hill neighborhood in the 50s and 60s, Dan attended St. Aloysius and St. Ann elementary schools, McBride High School and the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Dan was a master optician, and, in 1982, he founded the business he would run for the rest of his life. He was the life of that business. Optical Specialists has always been about excellent service and "the science and art of fitting eyewear." But it was so much more than that for Dan. His clients were his friends; his colleagues were his family. When you walked in the door, Dan greeted you with a beaming smile, a warm hug. He'd ask how you were doing and genuinely want to know the answer. He had a knack for turning any occasion into a party and getting fitted for eyeglasses was no exception.

Dan was unapologetically, unintentionally loud. An undeniable presence. Charismatic and charming. He traded in stories — often hilarious, occasionally outrageous, and usually somewhat true. He was bursting with love.

And those who were blessed to know Dan Bantle's love will likely never forget it. Husband, dad, grandpa, brother, mentor, friend… we looked to him for guidance. We looked to him for comfort. We simply looked up to him.

Where there was Dan, there was laughter. There was life.

May his spirit live on.

Visitation and Celebration of Life Friday, December 30, 2022.

Visitation will take place from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at ORTMANN-STIPANOVICH Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur MO.

Celebration will take place at 5:30 – 7:30 PM at THE LEGENDS COUNTRY CLUB, 625 Legends Pky, Eureka MO.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Eyethrive http://www.eyethrive.org or Connor's Cause www.connorscause.com .

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home    www.osfuneralhomes.com