Dan (John) Studybaker

John Daniel “Dan” Studybaker passed away peacefully on May 9, 2026 at his home in Sacramento. He was born on February 8, 1935, in Dayton, Ohio, to June Hamby Studybaker and John Henry Studybaker.

From an early age, Dan developed the independence, resilience, and work ethic that would define his life. An avid outdoorsman, woodsman, and horseman, he loved fishing and boating, especially during the years when his children were young.

As a boy, Dan attended military school at Ramsey Military School, where he later joked that he had been “a pretty rough kid.” In his youth, he moved with his father to his Uncle Arron’s abandoned property in Killiney, British Columbia. Together, they restored the homestead from the ground up, teaching Dan the practical trades and skills that would serve him throughout his life. During this time, his mother, June, worked in support of the war effort before eventually joining the family once the home became livable. Life in Killiney shaped Dan profoundly as he worked with horses, logging operations, orchards, and the hard physical labor that earned him the nickname “Scrapiron.”

Dan later moved to Sacramento with his parents and eventually found work at the South Land Park amusement area in Sacramento. There he met the love of his life, Myrna Schreck, while working with Paul Schreck Construction. Dan and Myrna were married on April 21, 1957. Paul Schreck became an important father figure and mentor to Dan throughout his life.

Together, Dan and Myrna built a loving family. Their son, John, was born on March 21, 1959, and their daughter, Paulette, on February 13, 1961. Around that time, the family purchased their first home on Wakefield Way in Sacramento, where they began building the life they would share for decades.

Over the years, Dan worked a variety of jobs, including positions with Aerojet, California Division of Forestry and various construction companies. In the mid-to-late 1960s, while living in Concord, he learned the trade of horseshoeing, which eventually became his full-time profession. Around this time, he purchased a seven-year-old Quarter Horse gelding named Pied Piper, sight unseen, for $500, continuing his lifelong passion for horses and horsemanship.

Dan became deeply involved in the horse community through organizations including the Sacramento Horsemen’s Association, NAGS, Reno Sierra Riders, and Mounted Patrol. His dedication to service and discipline eventually led him to enroll in the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Academy. After retiring from horseshoeing, he served as a provisional deputy before becoming a full-time deputy sheriff. During his career, he worked mounted patrol, served as a courthouse bailiff, managed the grounds at the River Walk Sheriff’s Academy, and supervised work-release inmates with fairness and steady leadership.

After both of their children graduated from high school, Dan and Myrna purchased their forever home near the Roseville switching yard in Sacramento. Never one to sit idle, Dan continuously improved the property, building horse pastures, fencing, enclosed patios, flower beds, and countless practical additions that transformed the property into a warm and functional homestead for family and friends to enjoy.

Dan eventually retired from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, leaving behind a life marked by hard work, craftsmanship, service, and devotion to family. He will be remembered for his strength, humor, resourcefulness, and enduring love of the outdoors, horses, and the people closest to him.

Dan rediscovered his love of the Great North in Alaska and became involved with and volunteered for The Iditarod, The Last Great Race. He made lasting friendships with several mushers, Checkpoint hosts and volunteers alike. He even spent a day running sled dogs on the Iditarod Trail at the home of a wonderful friend.

Dan is survived by his son, John; his daughter, Paulette (Bill Caputo); his granddaughter, Danielle (Matt); and his great-grandson, Myles Sinclair.

Graveside services will be held at East Lawn, 5757 Greenback Lane, Sacramento, CA, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the California Chaplain Corps in memory of Deputy John Daniel Studybaker.