John Daniel "Dan" Hitchens, 89, passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.

Dan was born on September 12, 1933 to Arthur and Gertrude Hitchens in Detroit. The youngest of their ten children, Dan graduated from DeLaSalle High School and the University of Detroit College of Engineering.
He married Jessie Zimmerman and they had five children before moving to Traverse City in 1969, where their youngest was born. Dan and Jessie celebrated 53 years of marriage together before her death in 2009.

Dan provided many job opportunities through his business ventures. He valued hard work and time spent with family.

As an avid walker, Dan visited the Civic Center most mornings and participated in numerous Cherry Festival and Turkey Trot 5K events. His most recent competition was the 2021 Turkey Trot.

Dan was a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a member of the Elks Club.

Dan was predeceased by his wife Jessie, daughter Theresa, grandson Anthony Lee, and many other relatives. Dan is survived by his children John (Janet) Hitchens and their children George (Glynis) Nemiroff and Rosie (Isaac) Wayton; Julie (Nick) Paron and their sons Kelly (Kennedy) and Jamey; Paul (Kwi) Hitchens and their children Rosemary Hitchens, Danny Hitchens, and Barbie Lee; Eileen Larsen and her children Dana Larsen and Heather (Nolan) Fine; Tom (Cherie) Hitchens and their children Molly, Sophie and Jack; Theresa's children Barb (Scott) McKay and Anne (Brian) Clark; and a special niece, Barb (Jim) Sullivan and their children Katie (Paul) Wilson and Eric Sullivan. Dan is also survived by his great-grandchildren, sister Nancy Brennan, and many other relatives.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., with visitation at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 12675 Center Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686. A private family burial will take place at a later date.

Thank you to the Munson teams who cared for Dan and all who supported him during his final illness.

Memorial contributions, for those wishing to donate, may be directed to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 12675 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686, or to the Cancer Program Needs Fund at the Cowell Family Cancer Center, 217 S. Madison Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.

The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.