Daniel M McGuire
Ft. Collins, CO
Vessey Funeral Service, Ft. Collins, CO
DANIEL M MCGUIRE
FORT COLLINS – Daniel “Dan” M. McGuire, local landscaper and tree nurseryman, passed away on February 18, 2026. Dan was born on October 24,1952 to Antoinette Caruso and Eugene F. McGuire in Princeton, NJ. Dan grew up in Pennington, NJ where he attended the public schools, was an Altar Boy, Eagle Scout, member of the Penn Brook Club Swim & Dive Team, and a lifeguard at the Jersey Shore.
Dan loved his family. He was a big kid at heart and enjoyed having fun with his daughters Laurel and Michelle as they grew up. He was so proud of what fine young women they’ve become. Dan married Helen Everhart in 1979, they started a family and built his business until their divorce in 1991. Dan’s mom, Toni, moved out to Ft. Collins in 1993 to help with the girls. Dan married Della Murphy in 1995 and together they worked to remodel their home and landscape their property into what they lovingly called “Our Piece of Heaven on Earth” which they enjoyed together for the next 23 years. Dan appreciated the support he received from both Della and Helen, his mom Toni, and from his friend Sue Taylor in his later years.
Dan was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hike, bike, ski, canoe and just absorb the beauty of nature. He treasured his friendships, many of which date back to grade school and his CSU days, particularly with Tom McGann from the 2ndgrade and Bill “Beak” Rogers from CSU. He loved birthdays, a good party, and hosted a St. Patrick’s Day Party for many years. Dan lived life fully, worked hard, loved deeply, and laughed often. His was a life well lived.
Dan learned the nursery business and art of landscaping while working summers at Howe’s Nursery in Pennington and Princeton Nurseries, two of the largest nurseries in the northeast at the time, and for Doerler Landscapes in Princeton, during his high school & college years. He graduated from Mercer County College in 1972 and from Colorado State College in 1976 with degrees in Landscape Horticulture.
Dan pursued what would become his lifelong passion and career by starting his own business, Earthpower Landscaping, the summer he graduated from CSU. He landscaped hundreds of homes and properties in the Ft. Collins area during the next half century. Dan took enormous pride in his work which was recognized by the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) with its highest award. Dan was actively involved with ALCC serving as President of the Northern Chapter, on the State Board as Treasure, and as a teacher in its continuing education programs.
In the early 2000s Dan started Trees on the Move, a tree transplanting service and a tree nursery on his nine-acre property, work which continued into his 70s. In 2003 Dan donated and planted a 13-foot Colorado Blue Spruce on the CSU campus in honor of Albert C Yates’s thirteen years as President. Dan leaves a legacy of beautiful landscapes and trees throughout the Fort Collins area that is true to Earthpower’s moto: “Patios for People and Landscapes to Live in.”
His legacy continues with his daughters Laurel Abbott (David) of Littleton, CO and Michelle McGuire of Vancouver, WA, and granddaughters Maya and Emily Abbott, all of whom survive him. He is also survived by his brother James McGuire of Pennington, NJ and his former wife Della Murphy of Ft. Collins. His parents predeceased him.
A Celebration of Life will be held for family and close friends on March 21st from 4:00-7:00 at Dan’s residence. Friends may wish to plant a tree in Dan’s memory as a visual reminder that his spirit lives on. Arrangements are being handled by Vessey Funeral Service, Fort Collins, CO, vesseyfuneralservice.com.
