Approaching 100 Years of Service, the Dannel Family
Continues to Provide Professional, Compassionate Care
Since well before the turn of the century, the Dannel family has owned and operated a funeral home, just as it does today.

While many funeral homes have been bought by large corporations (retaining their original names), Dannel has continued a tradition of keeping its family actively involved. Now, five generations later, the Dannel's are still serving the North Texas area with the kind of care you expect from someone with the experience and community connections built over a century.
Moments in Time
Rain was falling on those gathered at the northeast corner of the public square in Sherman, Texas that day in April, 1896, for the laying of the corner stone for the Confederate Monument which was raised later.


At about that same time, Charles O. Dannel (left) established a funeral home in Greenfield, Illinois. In 1908 his son, John C. Dannel, who had been in the business with his father, came to Texas and established the Sherman Undertaking Parlor, that later became the John C. Dannel Funeral Home. Five generations of Dannels followed in the footsteps of the founder.
John C. (right) opened his first funeral home at Houston and Walnut streets. It was later moved to the south side of the square, and in 1923 moved to its present location at Walnut and Jones. It was the first funeral home in this area built specifically as a funeral home, and one of the first in Texas.

In 1915, John C. held the first automobile funeral procession in the area utilizing the first motor drive hearse.


As it sometimes happens, leadership must endure hardships: following the funerals John C. was sued by the livery stable who had provided his horse-drawn hearse.

An ornate horse-drawn hearse was the standard in the early part of the century.
John C. Dannel who came to Sherman in 1908 was called "Big John" by his family. He was a pioneer of Sherman who helped establish the Masonic Lodge #117, when the lodge resided on the corner of Walnut and Houston Streets. He also chartered the Sherman Rotary Club and John was active in various charitable organizations.
Charles O. Dannel II known as "Chili" to his friends and family, was born and raised in Sherman. Chili was an integral part of many civic and charitable organizations in Sherman. He loved to act in the Sherman community theatre and he also sang in a trio. Chili's wife Frances Bird Dannel played the organ and piano for her church and other occasions.
John C. Dannel II guided Dannel Funeral Home into the second half of the Twentieth Century. John was like his ancestors before him, he was involved in several civic and charitable organizations including the Sherman Rotary Club, the United Way of Grayson County, Boy Scouts of America, and was a charter member of Home Hospice in Sherman. John loved classical music and could always be counted on to liven up a room with a song on the piano.
Charles O. Dannel III joined the staff of the funeral home in 2001. He is a fifth generation funeral director and also has a Batchelor of Arts in Business from Austin College in Sherman. Charles is following in the footsteps of his predecessors by being a member of Travis Street Masonic Lodge #117 as well as a member of the Sherman Rotary Club. Charles works alongside his mother Pat administering to the needs of the families they serve.