Daniel Joseph Feldhaus

Daniel Joseph Feldhaus of Santa Barbara passed away on August 29, 2026, at the age of 79. Dan was born on January 31, 1947, to Walter and Mildred Feldhaus in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Rita Feldhaus, who passed away just one week before him on August 22, 2026; and his brother, Tim, who passed away the following day, August 23, 2026. These profound losses may have been more than his declining health could bear.

Dan is survived by his sisters, Linda Wheatley (John) and Patti Baughman (Brad); his sons, Dan Feldhaus (Kim) of Santa Barbara, Jeff Feldhaus (Layla) of Encinitas, and David Feldhaus (Sarah) of Santa Barbara; and his grandchildren, Josh (Cassidy), Nate, Kellen, Reese, Sydney, and Shelby Feldhaus.

Dan grew up in La Verne, California, and graduated from Bonita High School in 1965. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, where he trained to work on aircraft carrier catapult systems.

After his military service, Dan, his then-wife JoAnn, and their first newborn son moved back to the La Verne area, where they began building their family life and Dan started a new career with Mattel Toys, and later moving to Huffy Bikes. His three young sons still remember the excitement of finding new Huffy bicycles under the Christmas tree.

In 1983, Dan and his family moved to Goleta where he began working at Raytheon Technologies. For nearly 25 years, he worked in the production of Electronic Warfare Systems. During his early years, he was part of a team that produced advanced electronic systems before eventually dedicating himself to developing protective technology designed to safeguard US military aircraft and the pilots who flew them.

One of the proudest moments of Dan’s career came following the Kosovo Conflict, when he and his team received thank-you notes from fighter pilots recognizing their work on these decoy systems. In addition to the notes and cards from the pilots, his team was also recognized by the U.S. Air Force Colonel Cecil Jones and his staff at the Pentagon, personally thanking them for their efforts. It was a moment Dan was deeply proud of and one that reflected the importance he placed on doing his job well.

Several years later, Dan reconnected with Rita Beckner, a former Bonita High School classmate. The two fell in love and were married in 1991.Together, they enjoyed family gatherings and traveling the country. One of their favorite trips together was an Alaskan cruise. They enjoyed the experience so much that they encouraged everyone to book that trip at least once in their lifetime.

Above all, Dan was a proud and devoted father and grandfather. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he was deeply involved in his sons’ sports and activities. He loved football, but baseball held a particularly special place in his heart. He was a coach and Board Member at Dos Pueblos Little League and spent countless hours supporting and coaching his three boys and his grandkids, sharing his love of the game and being there for them both on and off the field. His dedication to his sons and their activities became an important and lasting part of their childhood and family life.

Born in Cincinnati, Dan remained a lifelong and passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, a love he happily passed down to his sons. He also enjoyed Fantasy Football and participated in multiple leagues spanning three decades. Another favorite pastime was traveling with Rita to Las Vegas and in more recent years, visiting the Chumash Casino Resort, where he enjoyed rolling the dice at the craps tables and searching for the luckiest slot machines on the floor.

Dan built a life defined by hard work, integrity, and most importantly, love for his family and friends. He had a big heart, a gregarious personality, and a fun-loving spirit that made him someone people remembered and enjoyed being around. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.