Danny Schatz

Danny Christ Schatz –

dedicated husband, fa-

ther, grandfather, uncle,

brother and friend – 74, of

Fargo, North Dakota

passed away on June 27,

2022 after a courageous

multi-year battle with

pancreatic cancer.

Danny was born to

Christ and Geraldine

Schatz in Bergan, North

Dakota on November

30th, 1947. Danny gra-

duated from Bergan High

School in 1965 then brief-

ly attended NDSU before

enrolling in the United

States Marine Corp. Upon

returning from Viet Nam

Danny worked at

Krebsbachs and then for

Burlington Northern Rail-

road. Appealing to his

need for speed Danny be-

gan racing sprint cars in

the early 1970’s. On a

fateful day in 1972 Danny

met Diane Korgel at the

Velva 4th of July Rodeo

and soon after the two be-

gan their 48 year marriage

on February 23rd, 1974.

The couple went on to

have three kids, Donny

Schatz, Deanne (Schatz)

Svaleson, and Krista

(Schatz) Marshall.

In 1977 Danny and Di-

ane took over the lease of

the Standard Truck Stop

(later named Schatz

Crossroads Truck Stop)

and the couple became

self-employed. The couple

also embarked on the ad-

venture of showing Draft

Horses from 1980 to 1990

occasionally traveling

across the country with

their beautiful team of 8

Belgian Draft Horse hitch

and wagon. In 1983 Dan-

ny and Diane opened

their second truck stop,

the Econostop, just across

the highway from their

existing business. The

couple eventually moved

on from the horse show

world and began to work

with son, Donny Schatz,

as he started his racing

career in Go Karts. Danny

became a pilot which sup-

ported his love for ‘being

on the go’ and enabled the

couple to expand business

and adventures into new

locations. The couple con-

tinued to invest in their

future by expanding to

Fargo, North Dakota and

opened their third Truck

Stop – Petro Stopping

Center. His love for racing

continued to expand as

son, Donny Schatz, began

to race sprint cars

full-time for the World of

Outlaws 1997. Schatz

Motorsports continued to

have many years of suc-

cessful endeavors and has

since expanded into its

third generation with

Danny’s grandchildren be-

ginning a career in racing.

Danny’s love and support

for his family was end-

less; he invited and sup-

ported his daughters’

dreams of carrying on his

legacy in business in both

Minot and Fargo. His

honesty, wit and sense of

humor set him apart from

the average and he quick-

ly made a lasting impres-

sion on whoever he was

standing next to. Danny

was a man of his word, a

straight shooter and great

mentor to many people.

His energy and creativity

will be missed.

Danny is survived by

his wife, Diane; their chil-

dren Donny, Deanne

(Mike) Svaleson and Kris-

ta (Nicholas) Marshall;

seven grandchildren, Sa-

vanna, Laela, Amelia, Ber-

gan, Gray, Oliver and Eva;

his Brother, Gregory, his

sister, Colleen; and about

8-10 large wild rabbits in

his yard (that better con-

tinue to run in fear).

In his memory dona-

tions can be made in the

memory of Danny Schatz

to Sanford Hospice, or a

charity of your choice.

Sanford Hospice ¯ 820 4th

St. North ¯ Fargo, ND

58122

Please join his family

for a drop-in social

memorial service and fel-

lowship on Tuesday, July

5th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM

at DoubleTree Hotel

Conference Room, West

Fargo. Light hors

d’oeuvres and refresh-

ments will be served. (825

E Beaton Drive ¯ West

Fargo, ND 58078 ¯

701-551-0120 ¯ Bereave-

ment room rates are avail-

able)

Funeral Service will be

held Wednesday, July 6th

at 2:00 PM at DoubleTree

Hotel Conference Room,

West Fargo. (825 E Beaton

Drive ¯ West Fargo, ND

58078 ¯ 701-551-0120 ¯

Bereavement room rates

are available)

West Funeral Home &

Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com