Daniel "Dan" Castilleja, 53 of Austin, TX, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 after a long, hard battle with his health.

Dan was born on July 13th, 1967 in Los Angeles, California. He is the son on Ernest and Maria Castilleja. Dan moved to Austin, TX in 1969 at the age of 2. He attended Johnston High School where he was a star athlete on the school's football team as an offensive lineman. He was known as "Big Dan" by his friends and teammates and graduated in 1985.

Dan had a passion for sports so much so that he was actively involved in all his children's sports. He enjoyed being a coach and was often referred to and still is remembered as "Coach Dan".

Dan worked for the Republic Beverage Company for 20 years and most recently worked with Bug Masters for 5 years before becoming ill. He regularly attended church on Sundays with his family and often volunteered on the parking team.

What Dan cherished most was spending time with his family. As a father of 3, he enjoyed making memories with his family by taking trips to Disneyland, going to sporting events, quoting favorite movie lines, and watching sports on T.V. (to name a few). He was his children's biggest fan when they played sports. He never missed a lesson, a practice or a game and always put their sports and studies first. He remained involved in his children's lives as they grew up and continued to be a loving, caring, supportive role model, as he guided them through life. He took a lot of pride in his children and was an amazing father.

In July 2019, Dan got promoted to "Grandpa Dan" when his first grandchild, Abrianna was born. Abrianna always brought a smile to his face and lifted his spirits. His face would light up whenever he saw her. He was a proud grandpa and loved Abrianna beyond measure.

Dan is survived by his wife, Tina (Vasquez) Castilleja. His son Kevin Castilleja, daughter-in-law Chelsa and granddaughter Abrianna of Kyle, TX. Daughters Taylor Castilleja and Elianna Castilleja of Austin, TX. Brothers Rene Castilleja (Joanie) of Del Valle, TX, and John Castilleja (Diana) of Buda, TX. Sister Yvette Hanks (Taren) of Conroe, TX. Parents Ernest and Maria Castilleja of Del Valle, TX. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members and friends who loved him dearly.

Special thank you to the Hospice care team of Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin who went above and beyond to ensure that Dan was able to see his family in his final days.

Harrell Funeral Home remains committed to the health of our community and following instructions from our local authorities. New gathering requirements are allowing more people to attend funeral services at one time. The number of guests permitted to gather is dependent on the capacity of the room where the service is occurring. The Austin Chapel can hold 100 guests at one time. All guests attending services are required to wear protective masks and practice social distancing etiquette. Also, we have increased cleaning protocols to make our home as safe as possible. Guests with compromised immune systems or feeling ill are asked to join services from the safety of their homes.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Daniel, please visit our Tree Store.

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