The Family Man

Dana Jeppson is a family man.

Golden Living Center’s maintenance supervisor commutes daily from Chappell in order to earn a living and provide for his family. The small, rural Nebraska town has always been home to Dana, and even today, he lives just blocks from his father, brothers, nephew, and former wife and children. The 39-year-old Chappell native recognizes the importance of family in a person’s life, especially his own.

“My dad and mom are both such family-oriented people,” Dana said. “Everything has got to be family. Family is everything. Without that, you’ve got nothing.”

The quality trait is something the father of three hopes to instill in his own children, even if it must be done through a parental split. Dana said the divorce three years ago soured neither parent, allowing them to form a friendship that is beneficial to the children as they grow.

“Family is a huge part of my life,” Dana said. “And that’s why I want that stability for my kids so they can give that to their kids. My wife and I separated about three years ago. We stayed the best of friends. We get along very, very good. We each have the kids half the time.”

At the mere mention of his children, Dana’s eyes light up with a certain joy. He smiles as he names them: Darrick, the 12-year-old busybody who must always be doing something; Jace, the laid-back 9-year-old without a care in the world or a need to move at anyone else’s pace but his own; and Alexandria, the bubbly 4-year-old Daddy’s girl who always has a story to tell or fingernails to paint, even if they are her father’s.

Nothing is too good for his little girl, but the former construction worker of 20 years draws the line at make-up. He laughs as he says he’ll let her paint his nails and put barrettes in his hair, but lipstick just wouldn’t suit him.

His boys enjoy spending time with their grandpa. The boys are particularly fond of target shooting, which Dana enjoys as much as his children, making it a favorite family activity.

The only downside to his situation at this moment is that he feels there are not enough hours in the day to spend time with his children. Working 10- to 11-hour shifts at Golden Living Center, Dana is also putting himself through school. A full-time student at both Western Nebraska Community College-Sidney and Chadron State College, the hard-working father seeks a bachelor’s degree in Education. Already he holds associate degrees in general studies and bio-medical research.

“On most days, I come in at quarter to five and I work about a 10- to 11-hour day,” Dana said. “Once I leave here, then I go home and get my kids if it’s my day. I normally do homework at night and on weekends. My goal is to get my bachelor’s. Then there’s everything in between – meals, baths, housecleaning, laundry. All the good stuff.”

When it comes to what Dana wants for his children, it’s pretty simple.

“I just want to make sure my kids are safe, that they’re taken care of,” Dana said. “My ex wants to move to Sidney, and I’m just beside myself. I’ve lived in Chappell my whole life and I feel that they’re a lot safer there. I guess because I’ve been there my whole life.”

Dana said that should his ex-wife choose to move to Sidney, the change may not be too difficult. He attributes that to his in-town employment and daily commute to work. The thing he would miss the most is knowing that his children are no longer right down the block.

It would be the first time that he would be separated from his children by any sort of true distance.

Although Dana wasn’t there for Darrick’s birth, as the boy had already been born by the time Dana met the boy’s mother, Dana’s love knew no bounds and soon the new father adopted him. For Jace and Alexandria, their father was there when they took their first breaths, and he’s been there ever since.

“I really didn’t think it was going to be that big of a deal,” Dana said. “You just don’t expect all that emotion to hit you when they come out, but wow, it was a very awesome feeling.”

Looking back, Dana said holding them for the first time was both exciting and frightening. Holding such a fragile being in his arms, he worried that he might hurt them.

“I was actually scared,” Dana said. “You’re scared to move. You just feel like you’re going to break them.”

From the worried feelings of becoming a new father to the new torments of the quickly-approaching teen years that Darrick will enter later this year, it has been a trip that Dana wouldn’t change for the world. If there was one thing his children should know about him this Father’s Day, it’s this:

“I would walk to the ends of the Earth for my kids.”

– The Sidney Sun-Telegraph staff wishes Dana Jeppson and all area fathers a Happy Father’s Day!