Daniel Leroy Pohnert Sr., born September 4, 1957, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, went home to be with the Lord August 12, 2021, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. He grew up in Michigan and graduated from Michigan University. His engineering career led him to Florida where he resided the rest of his years.
While in Jacksonville he met his wife Debbie at First Baptist Church. Dan loved Debbie very much. They went on many adventures throughout the states during their nearly 30 years of marriage (right until God took him home). He was a kind, compassionate man who truly lived out the phrase "actions speak louder than words." Dan and Debbie have two children, Daniel and Arlo.
Dan was very qualified in his field with PE, RCDD, LEED AP BD&C in his electrical engineering job title as Senior Engineer. He specialized in controls engineering with an emphasis on industrial controls, energy, power distribution and communications project and managing multidiscipline Federal and Industrial projects. Dan was very respected in the electrical engineering community (Daniel Pohnert, PE, RCDD, LEED AP BD&C, Linkedin). His work led him to many countries such as India, Morocco, Peru, France, and more. His intelligence provided him many remarkable projects including involvement with agencies such as NASA. He was a public speaker and author of several presentations for conferences such as BISCI. To this day his children are met with fond words from those who admired his work ethic and dedication.
Though a busy man, he never ceased to put his family first. He worked hard to provide comfort for his family but he also loved sharing joy with them. One of his most memorable acts was the way he would get up around 5am and by 6am be making breakfast for them. He would awake everyone with, “The sun is shining, the birds are singing, it’s a beautiful day!”. He never hesitated to ride theme park rides with his kids or jump in the pool or ocean with them. He especially loved sharing knowledge with them and when possible he brought them to the VAB to learn about space shuttle assembly. He would also attend rocket and shuttle launches with them when they resided in central Florida.
Dan’s interests and hobbies included building G scale trains, watching Godzilla movies, learning about new developments in science and technology, nostalgic animation such as Speed Racer, travel, Chinese cuisine, trying new barbecue restaurants, and most importantly his love for God. He often would read God’s word to his family and would pray with them. He was a great example to his family, and those he knew, of how God works things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to his purpose.
Dan was a loving husband, father, and son. Dan was preceded in death by his father, Paul Pohnert, Sr.; and brother, Paul Pohnert, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Johnson Pohnert; his two children, Daniel and Arlo; daughter-in-law, Savannah Hancock Pohnert; Son-in-law, Evey Quartz and mother, Marcella Burger; plus, numerous brother-and-sister-in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 19, 2021, 10:00 am, followed immediately by the service at 11:00 am. There will be a private graveside service for the family at 12 pm.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Ponte Vedra Valley funeral home.
