Danny Gene Pinkerton

Danny Gene Pinkerton

Jan. 12, 1947 - Jan. 28, 2016

IRVINE, Calif. -- Danny Gene Pinkerton, age 69, of Irvine, formerly of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away at home on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, after a battle with cancer.

Danny was born Jan. 12, 1947, to Gene and Margie Clark Pinkerton at Lexington, Nebraska. He grew up in the Lexington and Cozad area before the family moved to North Platte. Danny graduated from high school in 1965 then joined the U.S. Navy in July and served in Vietnam.

Following his discharge in 1969, Danny returned to North Platte and married Betty Jane Naranjo. They had three children and eventually moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, and later divorced. When he returned from the service, Danny hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad and worked there for 22 years, becoming yard master then conductor. On July 7, 2000, Danny was united in marriage to Peggy Irene Hampton at Santa Anna, California and they lived in Denver, Colorado, before moving to California. Danny was employed as a financial advisor then a mortgage banker before he retired in 2006.

Danny enjoyed cooking, fishing and spending time with his family. He leaves behind his wife, Peggy, of Irvine; his children, Michal (Jackie) Pinkerton of North Platte, Melissa (Robert) Gardner of Fort Collins and Melinda 'Mindy' (Bruce) Kennie of Louisville, Colorado; nine grandchildren, Miranda (Richard), Quintin, Alexis 'Lexi,' Hayden, Zachary, Amelia, Emily, Sierra and Logan; two great-granddaughters, Ava and AnnaBelle; two brothers, JR Pinkerton of Aberdeen, Texas, and Tim (Heather) Pinkerton of Portland, Oregon; sisters, Linda (Dan) Carroll of Amarillo, Texas, and Phyllis (Joe) Capparelli of Nassau, New York; mother and father-in-law, Esther and Bruce Hampton of McCook, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Pam (Heinz) Wallace of Junction City, Kansas; and many nieces, nephews and other family.

Danny was preceded in death by his parents, Gene, Sr. and Margie; and five brothers, baby Michal and Kenneth, 'Roger' Rocky, Jay and Alan Pinkerton.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at Odean Colonial Chapel in North Platte. Burial with military honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Orange County Rescue Mission For The Village Of Hope; 1 Hope Drive; Tustin, CA 92782 or the National Brain Tumor Society For Research; 124 Watertown Street Suite #2; Watertown, MA 02472.