July 18, 1933 - March 15, 2025

Sheridan, WY

Willard Tournat Danker of Sheridan, Wyoming passed away peacefully on March 15, 2025, at home in Scottsdale.

“Will” was born July 18, 1933, in Anaheim, California.

His parents, Stella Victoria Tournat and Benjamen Joseph Danker farmed orange groves in the Santa Ana Canyon. Will graduated from Valencia High School in 1951. He earned a professional degree in Petroleum Refining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1955 where he participated in ROTC and was commissioned 2nd Lt. in the US Army Corps of Engineers ultimately attaining the rank of Captain before being honorably discharged in 1964. Will married Nancy Bartlett Nordby whom he met while astudent at Mines and she a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Will’s professional career included refinery design and construction and all phases of the business of the petroleum industry. His employment included 2 years with Shell Oil, and 29 years with Chevron Oil in San Francisco with assignments in St. John, New Brunswick, Pascagoula, MS, New York City, and Brussels. After retirement, Will and Nancy resided in Superior, Colorado and spent many enjoyable months each year at their vacation homes in Wisconsin, and Arizona. They also enjoyed traveling to Poipu Beach and other destinations worldwide. Nancy and their son Lee predeceased Will. Stephanie Danker Kirby survives Will as well as two granddaughters—Jennifer Jaeger (Casey) and Nicole Kirby, and two great-grandkids (Madison and Connor). There will be a celebration of Will’s life this summer in Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcomed to “Will and Nancy Danker Scholarship Endowed Fund” at the “Colorado School of Mines Foundation” at: Colorado School of Mines Foundation, Inc. P.O. BOX 912031, Denver, CO 80291-2031. Donations are also welcome to any medical research fund of your choosing.