Visitation will be held Thursday, January 23 at Mitchell Family Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 24 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish: St Henry Catholic Church in Marshalltown with lunch immediately following. Dan will then be laid to rest at Marietta Cemetery. Any law enforcement officer in attendance at the funeral is asked to wear their uniform in honor of Dan’s dedication to law enforcement. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donation in Dan’s name to the Historical Society of Marshall County or Iowa River Hospice. Mitchell Family Funeral Home of Marshalltown has been entrusted with the care of Dan and his family. To leave online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. or call Ph. 641-844-1234.

Daniel Wayne Brandt was born on July 1, 1944, in Waterloo, Iowa to Walter George “Shorty” and Irene Mary (McKenna) Brandt. He grew up in Buckingham, Iowa where he attended Buckingham Consolidated Elementary School through 7th grade. Dan graduated from Traer-Clutier High School in 1962 where he played bass in the band “The Midnighters.” Following graduation, he attended the University of Northern Iowa for two years. After college, Dan served his country in the 404th Signal Company, U.S. Army Reserve.

On January 3, 1967, Dan began his career at Fisher Controls as a machine tool designer in the tool engineering department. After 39 ½ years, he retired in 2016 as supervisor of all tooling areas at the Governor Road machining facility. During his time at Fisher Controls, Dan taught CPR and First Aid to many Fisher employees and their families for over 30 years.

Dan met and fell in love with Donna Elizabeth Nichols and on May 29, 1982, they were united in marriage at the historic Binford House in Marshalltown. From this union a daughter Amy Elizabeth was born.

Dan dedicated his life to public service. He was a reserve police officer for the Marshalltown Police Department for over 41 years. After retirement from the police force, Dan continued his public service as a volunteer for the police department and helped establish the Marshalltown Police Citizen Volunteer Program. He could always be found leading the parades with the 1966 Impala squad car he and others had restored as well as directing parade traffic at the intersection of East Main Street and 2nd Avenue. Dan was a founding father of the Iowa State Reserve Law Officers Association (ISRLOA) and served as secretary-treasurer for 50 years. During that time, he advocated for reserve law enforcement officers and worked with state legislators to pass legislation for hiring standards and training of reserve law officers across the state. In 2009 Dan was the first reserve police officer in Iowa to receive ILEA state certification. In 1987 Dan received the annual Respect for Law Award from the Noon Optimist Club. In 1995 he received the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame Award for his work in the Marshalltown Police Reserve. In 2006 Dan was awarded the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award for his years of service as a reserve police officer. In 2010 he received the Ron Galloway Respect for Law Award from the Morning Optimist Club. In 2012 Dan received the ISRLOA Distinguished Service Award, which honors an individual’s time and effort for the advancement of law enforcement and the ISRLOA. That was only the sixth time in 40 years the award had been given. In 2018 Dan was given a 50-year award by the Marshalltown Police Department for his significant contributions to law enforcement. Last year he was recognized by the Marshalltown Police Department for 53 years of service to the police reserve program in Marshalltown and the ISRLOA.

Dan had many interests in life. Dan and Donna served on the Northeast Marshall Rural Water Steering Committee and were instrumental in the expansion of the rural water system north of the Iowa River in Marshall County, going door-to-door to encourage rural water enrollment in the area. Dan joined the Central Iowa Water Association (now Iowa Regional Utilities Association) board of directors in 1988 where he served for 36 years. He enjoyed construction and in 1986 built their log home northeast of Marshalltown. He served six years on the Iowa Law Enforcement Torch Run committee and ran in many law enforcement torch runs from Marshalltown to Ames with fellow officers. Dan enjoyed running and participated in several 5K/10K events in Iowa. He was especially proud of running in the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia in 1994 and 1996. Dan was a member of the Iowa Central Model Railroad group and had fun putting together his section of the group’s layout. He was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, serving as an usher and eucharistic minister for 30 years. Dan enjoyed pheasant hunting with his friends and his two black labs, Josie and Molly. He trained both dogs to compete in field trials on weekends all over Central Iowa. He also enjoyed deer hunting during muzzleloader season.

Dan and Donna took a number of motorcycle trips including one to the World’s Fair in Knoxville, TN for their honeymoon. They also rode the motorcycle to Silver Dollar City and twice to Atlanta, Georgia. They enjoyed camping and spent time at various campgrounds with their daughter and later their grandsons. Dan and Donna shared a passion for researching their family histories. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary by taking their camper to Ohio and Virginia to research in courthouses, libraries and “visit” relatives in cemeteries. After that they would travel to various states every couple years to continue researching. Dan was a member of the Central Iowa Genealogical Society and served as vice president then president of the Historical Society of Marshall County.

Dan loved being a dad and Amy was never far from his side. Dan was a kid at heart and was involved in many activities with Amy. He even participated in Amy’s father-daughter dance at Amy’s senior dance recital. Dan adored his grandsons and enjoyed spending time with them. He never missed an event and attended all their basketball, soccer, and football games, as well as concerts.

Left to mourn his passing but celebrate his life are his wife and best friend of 42 years, Donna; his daughter, Amy (Cory) Howell of Marshalltown; grandsons Devon and Lucas Howell; his sister Teresa (John) Schlorholtz of Percival, Iowa; sisters-in-law Diane Roberts and Darla Nichols; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Donald Dean (Connie) Nichols and Barbara Jo (Tom) Morgan, and brother-in-law Tim Roberts.

Lovingly written by his family.