Daniel "Danny" Leon Shahan

      Daniel “Danny” Leon Shahan, 75, of Dover passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at home surrounded by his loving family, after a short battle with cancer. Danny was born in Dover, Delaware on January 10, 1951 son to the late Leon Shahan and Emma Shahan. 

     In the late 1960’s Danny was a big part in creating a local band with several of his childhood friends and a cousin (Bob Montgomery, Mitchell Banks, Ralph Blades and Michael Shahan) they named the band “The Movement” and would spend weekends holding dances at the Bowers Fire Hall. Danny was the bass player. The band got together for one more round to perform at the wedding of Danny’s daughter Tina in 2002. 

     Danny’s first job was at the age of 13 where he had his very own paper route for the Delaware State News. In his adult years he carried out every little boy’s dream of being a heavy equipment operator, with his first job taking him to Florida where he helped build the now infamous Walt Disney World before returning to Delaware. Once back in Delaware he continued working as a heavy equipment operator for a local union out of Wilmington which took him all across the country including Minnesota, Las Vegas, New Jersey, New York and Utah before returning back to Delaware. Once back in Delaware he worked for Kent Construction of Smyrna for 15 years before having a major heart attack that left him partially disabled. 

     Danny was a huge NASCAR fan and followed Davey Allison and Jeff Gordon, he would attend a race whenever he could and if he couldn’t you could find him either watching a race on TV or listening to them on the radio. He had a love for the outdoors and would be outside whenever possible; he loved to go fishing and crabbing with his kids and grandkids and having backyard BBQs with his family. But most of all he just loved being with family, he was happiest when surrounded by his children and grandchildren. 

     Danny was a life member of the Bowers Fire Company, joining on February 6, 1967. He was presented his life membership in 1979 after being sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation while trying to save the equipment when the Bowers Fire House burnt. 

     Danny is survived by his loving wife of 51 years Connie M. Shahan; his four children: daughter Stacy Shahan of Florida; daughter Tina Czelusniak and son-in-law Travis of Camden; daughter Danyeal Shahan of Dover, and son Daniel Shahan of Dover; nine grandchildren: Marlin Takovich, Austin Gavin, Kendall Czelusniak, Shawn Czelusniak, Aurora Rexroad, Orion Shahan, Eli Shahan, Leon Dixon and Joseph Cannon; four sisters: Linda Hudson (Hank), Beverly Shahan, Marielen Littleton (Billy), and Mille Boc (John); as well as many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.

     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his youngest son Michael Shahan, a niece Jamie Walls and his sister Bonnie L. Witt.  

     A funeral service will be Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, DE 19934, where friends may visit with the family from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Interment will be in Barratts Chapel Cemetery, Frederica. Online condolences may be made via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.

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