Daniel S. Seymour

Daniel Stuart Seymour was born in Elkhorn, WI on July 7th, 1929. He lived in Elkhorn until his death on December 12, 2025. His father William Lester Seymour was a prominent attorney and community member who died young, leaving his mother Esther a strong matriarch who led the family of 5 children. Dan took on many jobs to help support the family, including the mail route on Lauderdale Lakes and working for Gus and Grace Rendall at the Sterlingworth Motor Inn. They took him under their wing and treated him like a son.

He joined the Navy as a young man during the Korean War and was stationed in Greenland. He began his college career at the University of Wisconsin Madison, but soon returned to hospitality and the Sterlingworth, eventually buying it with his friend and partner Ed Barta. Dan and Ed started a business called BarMour corporation which owned the Sterlingworth and the Crossroads Supper Club and Motel, eventually splitting off as good friends. Dan would develop the Sterlingworth Hotel, Crossroads Motel, Luebke’s Resort on Green Lake and Lauderdale Lakes Golf Club into a successful business venture over many years. Eventually including Evergreen Golf Club into the mix with friends and business partners Milt Jacobsen, Phil and Bill Langley. At Evergreen, he worked with numerous organizations to establish charity golf events that sustained their missions.

He was a lifelong member of the Tavern League of Wisconsin and a leading voice in the Walworth County Tavern League. The Tavern League President Hollis Ward was once asked by a fellow barman why he always gave the Sterlingworth the opportunity to host a lunch for disadvantaged youth. Hollis said the barman should write down how much he would charge per child for a burger, fries and a soda, and if he beat Seymour’s price the barman could host the event. After some ciphering the barman slid over a cocktail napkin with a price on it and Hollis said nope. The incredulous barman said “Seymour can’t do it for less than that he’d lose his shirt.” Hollis smiled and said “He covers the entire cost.” An action he took for many charities throughout his life. One of his proudest accomplishments was development of a program to hire, train and make permanent jobs for developmentally challenged kids in the 1960’s. This became a widespread and successful approach to enhance people’s lives, for which he received awards and acknowledgement, and which continues to provide opportunities for many individuals today. He was deeply committed to mentoring young people in how to work hard to achieve their goals. While not a go to church on Sunday religious man, he was a strong supporter of the St. Patrick’s Parish and particularly of the primary school along with one of his best friends, Father Joseph Hanuska.

Always ready with a second chance and a helping hand up, if people were willing to work and try to improve. In keeping with an Elkhorn tradition, he was an avid horseman who raised and owned many Standardbred race horses, a passion formed with his friend from Elkhorn Phil Langley. Along with another avid Elkhorn race horsemen, Bob Clark, he would often attend the Tattersalls horse sales at the Red Mile in Lexington, KY. He enjoyed upland bird hunting and trips around the Midwest and Southeastern WI, with the likes of Nubs Opitz, Harold Daly, Babe Mann, Judge Zastrow and others.

He lived life by his own rules, always inspiring those around him to stay on their own passion driven path.

In his retirement, he lived peacefully in Elkhorn, his hometown, until his passing.

He is survived by his children and their spouses, a grandson and his longtime friend. Per his request, his body was donated to the University of Wisconsin Madison Medical College.

No services will be held, but if he left a positive mark on your life, raise a toast!