Obituary for Daniel Joseph VanDemark

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Daniel Joseph VanDemark, who left us on May 3, 2023, at the age of 67 from pancreatic cancer.

Born on July 23, 1955, in Denver, Colorado, Daniel was a loving dad, grandpa, brother, and friend to many. He liked to make people laugh.

He was predeceased by his loving parents, Louise (Warchot) and Albert VanDemark. Dan is survived by his brother, Scott VanDemark, and sister, Lynn VanDemark, all of Colorado, who will continue to hold dear memories of him.
 

In addition to his siblings, Dan’s legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren who called him “Pa”.  He is survived by his daughter, Danielle (Alex) VanDemark, and their child, Logan L5; his daughter, Maggie (Kevin) Kiernan, and their children, Macy M8 and Josie J9; his daughter, Tracy (Joe) Mulvihill, and their children, Cole C1 and Cameren C2; his son, Dustin (Kerrie) VanDemark, and their children, Kaitlynn K3, Kyla K4, Elizabeth E6, and Brooklynn B7; his son, Brady VanDemark; and his ex-wife Donna VanDemark.
 

Dan also leaves behind his life partner Cassie Anderson Wherry. Together, they shared a love of rock collecting, camping, fishing, traveling and time with family.

Dan was an army veteran, serving in Vietnam.   After moving to Webster City, Iowa from Denver, Colorado in 1981 he worked at the cemetery and Frigidaire for several years. He always enjoyed working with his hands and was a skilled craftsman. He had his own handyman business, Dan’s Do-All, when he lived in Grinnell, Iowa. During his time in Ames, Iowa, he worked with Story Construction and Iowa Homecrafters, where he enjoyed learning the newest techniques and building state of the art homes. After retirement he spent some time driving for Yellow Cab in Iowa City, Iowa.
 

Dan loved nature and wildlife. He spent a lot of time gardening, finding arrowheads and teaching his children to fish.  He could often be found starting a campfire, canoeing or exploring. 

Dan’s unwavering love for his family was evident throughout his life, and his presence will be deeply missed. We take comfort in the knowledge that his spirit will live on in each of us and continue to guide our lives. 

A private gathering will be held in Dan’s favorite place in the Colorado Rocky Mountains at a later date. 

In lieu of cards or flowers, the family is asking that everyone has ice cream for dinner.