Daniel T. "Danny" DeBacker Jr., 22, of Orion, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. He was welcomed at the gates of Heaven by his "Papa" Roger DeBacker. Services for Danny will be at 11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 6, at the Heritage Wesleyan Church, 4801 44th St., Rock Island. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the family for future use to help fund programs or scholarships that share Danny's passion for life. Danny was born on July 11, 1992, in Moline, the son of Daniel T. DeBacker Sr. and Karen S. Gosney DeBacker. Danny lived in St. Louis from the ages of 3 to 5 before moving back to the Quad-Cities, where he has resided in Orion. He completed Kindergarten through 12th grade at the Orion Community School District where he established great friendships, and graduated in 2011. Danny was very active and a great athlete as he excelled/participated in many activities and sports such as environmental club, executive council, soccer, baseball, football, track and his greatest love of all basketball. Danny was a part of the Orion 2011 boys basketball team that won the class 1A Sectional title and advanced to the quarter finals for the first time ever. He was awarded the Pacesetter Award by the Moline Dispatch his junior year, First Team All Olympic Conference, 2009-2010 Best Defensive Player, 2010 boys basketball All Tournament Team Orion Tip-off, and 2011 Most Valuable Player (track). Danny also played for three AAU basketball teams: Future Stars, QC Magic and Iowa Mavericks. After high school, Danny attended Black Hawk College in Moline, where he played basketball and completed his associates degree in 2013. He then transferred to Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he continued to play basketball, run track, was a member of the Biology and Psychology Clubs and was working to complete his bachelor's degree in psychology and biology the spring of 2015. Danny was always making plans for his future which included getting a master's degree in occupational therapy, becoming a personal trainer and a coach. Danny enjoyed watching and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Green Bay Packers, the Bulls, and the St. Louis Cardinals. He has great memories of attending Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball games with friends and when he and Andy Adams were invited to attend the Bulls vs. Celtics game. Danny had great admiration for professional players such as D. Rose, D. Wade, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Brett Favre. Left to honor in his memory are his parents, Dan and Karen DeBacker, Orion; a sister, Kati DeBacker, at home; grandparents, "Meme and Papa" Charlene and Richard Gosney, Rock Island; grandma "Meme" Pat DeBacker, Moline; aunts and uncles, Rick and Chris Gosney, Taylor Ridge, Sherri and Mark Gifford, Ellijay Georgia, Dave and Missy DeBacker, Matherville, Jill and Kent Everingham, Novato, Calif., and Jennifer and Jaime Reyes, Bettendorf. Danny's cousins include Sean Bizjack, Michael and Caleb Gifford, Jordan, Luke and Callie Gosney, Conner, Collin and Chase Everingham, Jose, Grace and Denver DeBacker, and Jude Reyes. The entire DeBacker Family would like to thank everyone for your love, support and prayers during this difficult time. To the Mount Mercy Basketball Team, Danny's spirit will shine down on you this season ... "Wheatbread/DD#20" We Love You Forever. We know you and Andy are hooping it up together. Danny is an organ donor and hopefully is saving lives with the loss of his own. Danny was preceded in death by his grandfather, Roger DeBacker. Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com.