Daniel Ray Kultala, 67, Basehor, KS passed away on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at University of Kansas Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Services to celebrate his life will be held at Porter Funeral Home,1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102. The visitation will be10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with a service starting at 11:30 a.m.
Dan was born on January 20, 1958, in Estherville, IA, the son of Edwin and Dorothea Schlotfelt Kultala. He moved to Ames, IA to attend college at Iowa State University where he met the love of his life, Kelly. They traversed across Iowa and Minnesota while working for HyVee. In 1981, they relocated to Lawrence, KS, where he began working for Standard Beverage. In the early 1990s, they moved to Kansas City, KS and Dan went to work for Paramount Liquor, now Southern Glazier Wine and Spirits. Dan retired from Southern Glazier in 2021 due to his health. He loved his job and the people he worked with.
Dan loved to do anything outdoors including puttering around in his barn. He was a self-trained wood worker and enjoyed building items for family. His daughters will always treasure the wooden rocking cradles he made for his grandchildren. Dan had a beautiful singing voice and enjoyed singing with his daughters. Also, he recently spent time restoring a couple of classic cars. He was an avid Chiefs, Royals, and KU fan. Dan had an incredible sense of humor which lives on through his daughters and grandchildren. His heart was pure gold. To say he will be greatly missed is a vast understatement.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Dan is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kelly Danise, and their three daughters and families: Taylor, Barry, Lane, Claire and Emma Burson; Whitney, Louis, Lola, and Cash Renshaw; and Spenser, Ryan, Bryce, and Josie Colston. He’s also survived by his siblings Steve and Laura Kultala, John and DeAnn Kultala, Sandy and Don Schlotfelt, Deb and Steve Feddersen, Kathy and Craig Johnson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the KU Kidney & Pancreas Transplant Team in Dan’s honor: KU Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Team