Daniel Clyde Eslinger was born on November 2, 1950, to Robert Haynes Eslinger and Mildred Jeanne (Thomas) Eslinger in the old Galloway Hospital in Anthony, Kansas. When he was five years old, his family moved from Anthony to a farm northeast of Argonia. He and his sister, Mary, went to grade school in Argonia where he graduated from the 8th grade. Around this time his family moved back to a farm west of Anthony. Dan didn't feel comfortable going to Anthony High School where he knew few students, so his parents talked the school into allowing him to repeat the 8th grade at Plainview where he had lots of friends and cousins. He graduated from Anthony High School with the class of 1969. While attending high school in Anthony, Dan wrestled and ran cross country. He also loved to take his dogs coon hunting, a favorite pastime he continued while raising his two sons.

After graduation, his parents helped him buy a tractor and equipment so he could start farming his first 80 acres of wheat ground west of Anthony near their farm.

Throughout this period, the Vietnam War was going on and Dan's number was called up, so he and several of his friends joined the National Guard for six years. During this time, he kept in touch with Ronda, writing letters back and forth when he could.

It was because of these letters that he went on and married the love of his life, Ronda Sue (Beard) Eslinger on December 4, 1971 at Amorita, Oklahoma. To this union two sons were born, Dave in 1973 and Mike in 1976.

Dan, Ronda, and their family worked hard and built a farming business they were very proud of. Starting in 1997 Dan was also honored to serve as the Harper County Sheriff. Unfortunately, the timing of this did not allow him to work on the farm as much as needed, which was his number one passion. It was because of this that Dan decided to step down from Sheriff in 2001.

Dan loved farming, but when the time came, he proudly turned it over to Dave and Mike. This allowed him more time to mow his nature trails around their two ponds, maintain their large yard, plant trees, flowers, and vegetables, and move around his yard art. The past couple years he mastered growing new potatoes in his raised beds, made from old cow tanks. He loved sharing them with his friends and family. This year his new projects were long rows of wildflowers, and two raised beds of tomatoes. He loved spending time in his bird-watching area behind the chicken house, whether that be working on his rows of flowers or sitting there listening to bluegrass. It was an area that he was so proud of, and anyone would be jealous to have. He also loved collecting antiques and displayed his treasures in his private museum that used to be his mom and dad's home.

He was grandad to six wonderful kids, their spouses, one fiancé, and an adorable great-grandson. He truly loved each and every one of them! Somehow, he became 'Grandad' to many more. He was so loved by his many nieces and nephews was proud to be Uncle Dan.

On July 1, 2025, Dan passed away in Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas, from complications caused by the West Niles Virus. He was seventy-four years of age. Those left to mourn his passing include his wife of 53 years, Ronda; sons: Dave (Azure), and Michael (Trina); grandchildren: Theron (Kaitlin), John Aggson, Jaden (Allie), Ely (Ashlyn), Chloe, and Jacelyn; great-grandson, Tulsen; sister, Mary Francis (Dennis); brothers-in-law: Loyd Boham, Ken Carothers; and sister-in-law Patti Beard.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Jeanne Eslinger; grandparents, Clyde Eslinger, Alice (Eslinger) Albright and Dan and Lola Thomas; in-laws, Bill and Evah Beard; Ronda's siblings: Luanne Boham, Marsha Carothers, and William Beard.

Dan was a faithful man, even if he didn't often express it, but you could always catch him listening to his great gospel music on Pandora and each morning when he got up he would tell Ronda who he prayed for today. When Dan was young he was saved at the Hopewell Presbyterian Church on May 10, 1969. He was later baptized at the Anthony Church of God on June 22, 1975, with Pastor Rod Tholle presiding.

Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 3rd.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 5th at Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003. Burial will follow in the Burchfiel Cemetery, south of Anthony.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Anthony Museum and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home.