Daniel J. Devries

Madison -- Daniel John Devries, age 19, died on Friday, December 10, 2010 in Madison.

Dan was born in Madison on December 14, 1990 to Patricia and Keith Devries. He was the youngest of four children. He loved playing his guitar, going to concerts, creating art in a variety of media, exploring nature, playing video games and hockey, caring for his beloved pets, socializing with his friends, and spending time with his family. Dan graduated from Malcolm Shabazz City High School in Madison in 2009 and was attending Madison Area Technical College at the time of his death.

Dan is survived by his mother, Patricia (Dan Sobczak) Devries; his father, Keith (Dorothy Doheny) Devries; his sisters and brother, Julie (Alex Hess) Devries, Lisa (boyfriend, Russell Drouillard) Devries, and Tom Devries; his step-sisters, Erin and Jenna Sobczak; his grandparents, Mildred Devries, and John and Patricia Duralia; his aunts and uncles, Joanne Devries, John (Ann) Duralia, and Tom (Rene McKnight) Duralia; his cousins, Laureen (Brian) Hoeft, Mark Devries, and Natalie Duralia. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Jacob Devries; and his uncle, Ken Devries.

A visitation will be held from 4 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, followed by a memorial service at 7 p.m. Anyone who wishes to express his or her thoughts about Dan will have an opportunity to do so during the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Foundation for Madison's Public Schools, 455 Science Drive, Madison, WI 53711. Gifts in Dan's name will be used to help fund the Coming of Age program at Shabazz High School, which was a profoundly meaningful experience for him.

Those who loved Dan will always remember him for his dry, sarcastic sense of humor, his deeply sensitive disposition, and his steadfast determination to always be true to his authentic self.

After years of internal struggles that those closest to him can hardly fathom, Dan has set his spirit free, and he will live on forever within all of us.