Daniel Skinner Dapkus

Daniel Skinner Dapkus died peacefully on February 26, 2026, at the age of 69, after two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit at North Memorial Hospital. 

His soulmate and life partner of 52 years, Joy Watson, was by his side, holding his hand and telling him she loved him.

Dan was born on July 14, 1956 in Minneapolis to Rachel and Conrad Dapkus. He is survived by his partner Joy and his siblings, David and Deborah. Dan and Joy met as teenagers and built a life together that spanned more than five decades.

Much of Dan's life was spent in the Lake Minnetonka area, where he enjoyed fishing and boating. Dan was a creative artist and talented woodcarver. He had a curious mind and an appreciation for trivia and unusual treasures. His greatest pleasure in life - aside from spending time with Joy - was collecting. His collections were varied, quirky and reflective of his personality. His favorite things to collect were rocks; over the years he quite literally gathered tons of them.

Dan will be missed and remembered by his family and friends. A celebration of his life will be held in the spring.