Daniel W. Goerdt

DYERSVILLE, IOWA

Daniel William Goerdt, 74, of The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family.

A mass of Christian burial will take place on Saturday, November 1st at 12:30pm at St. Francis Xavier Basiclia in Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Tom McDermott will officiate. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Field of Dreams Event Center from 3:00pm-6:00pm.

Daniel was born in 1950 to Mary Alice (O’Hare) and Delbert William Goerdt and raised in Dyersville, Iowa, where he learned the values of hard work, family, kindness, and community that shaped his life. After college, his career path took him into toys and sporting goods sales all over the Midwest. He settled outside of Chicago where he was a partner in Reicher Goerdt Sales and Marketing. In 1997 he married his best friend and love of his life Jennifer and together they lived in Crystal Lake, IL with their four boys. In 2015, Daniel and Jennifer retired to The Villages, Florida, where they embraced a vibrant community. Here they enjoyed sunshine, relaxation, made dear friends, and played many games of pickleball.

Daniel is survived by his beloved wife Jennifer Goerdt; his four sons, Donald (Carla) Snyder, Bob Snyder, Thomas (Lauren) Goerdt, and Chris (Mila) Goerdt; and his treasured grandchildren, Chloe Snyder, Audrey Snyder, and Lilliana Goerdt. He is also survived by his loving siblings, Patricia (Eldon) Ries, Cheryl (Robert) Greenwood, and Terry (Mary Jo) Goerdt, Father-in-Law Robert Shannon, Shannon Family Members, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and lifelong friends. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, nephews Jeff and Ryan Ries, mother-in-law Helen Shannon, brother-in-law Richard Philbrick, grandparents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Daniel will be remembered for his gentle spirit, quick wit, love of baseball (a 1968 Beckman High School Blazers championship player) and unwavering devotion to his family. He had a warm smile for everyone he met and a way of making people feel at ease. His legacy of love, laughter, and integrity will live on in all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Daniel’s memory to a charity of your choice, in keeping with his generous and compassionate spirit.