Dan E. Gantenbein

Dan E. Gantenbein left the hand of his sweet bride of 43 years, Jan and took the hand of his Savior Jesus into eternal life as his family surrounded him through his battle and he finally won victory over cancer. His battle is won and he is with Jesus- finally healed for eternity.
The celebration of Dan's life will begin on Friday from 3pm-8pm at Hope Church continuing Saturday at 10am, also at Hope Church.

Dan was born June 27, 1950, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Don and Lois. He graduated from Senior High in 1969. He married his high school sweetheart, Jan Schmalz, on August 1, 1970.

Dan's first job at age 14 was for Mulgrew Blacktop where he worked until 1978 then worked 30 years for Koch Materials, but his most favorite job was being the "caretaker" at Medline Industries until his illness forced him to retire in June of 2012.

Dan was so incredibly loved by his family and friends. "Papa's pool" was built so his grand babies, his family and friends could fellowship and spend time together. It was known that if the garage door was open the pool was open. That legacy will continue. He lived every day as if it was his last...he spoke truth and hugged all those he came in contact with. Dan had a sweet life growing up in an awesome family and met his bride Jan at Senior High when they were 15 and 16 and were together ever since.
The real joy of his life started when he went to a retreat weekend and made a commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord of his life. From this moment he truly lived free...his uncontainable love was now followed up by the Holy Spirit and he was unstoppable with Jesus as his Lord. Dan and Jan went on to start a CRW, Christian Retreat Weekend. This was now where Dan was serving his mission and God ordained purpose. Using this ministry God worked through Dan and Jan to restore marriages and many others were led to Christ. From that it grew into Marriage Ministries and very special small groups with even a poolside wedding. The pool is known as a sweet place of fellowship and is not only a gathering spot for amazing conversations and fun, wrinkled fingers and toes, laughter and splashing of kids and cuddles for babies, but there will continue to be huge work being done for Jesus. There were baptisms being performed as people professed their love for our Savior. God gave us the gift of this place and allowed us watch Him transform lives.

We never lost hope that Dan would be healed this side of Heaven and prayed continuously for that miracle. That was not God's plan but we know he is healed and without pain now. In that moment, as he was face to face with his Savior, we know he heard the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Surviving are his wife Jan of 43 years, his children Tami (Bob) Jansen and Matty Gantenbein; 10 grandchildren, Derrick Jansen, Brittani (Tony) Zammit, Alexa Danielle (Steven) Priske, Caden Jansen, Tanner, Issabella, Camden, Emma, and Holden Gantenbein, and Alexis Smothers; a sister Linda (Tim) Maas, sister in law Sherri (Dan) Herber, brothers in law David (Linda) Schmalz, and Don (Mindy) Klein, and some very special nieces and nephews. His family extended way beyond blood and there were hundreds who called him Papa.

He was preceded in death by his amazing, loving parents Don and Lois Gantenbein who taught him first the many lessons that helped him become the beautiful man he was. His free spirited, fun loving brother Matty, father and mother in law Howard and Sally Schmalz and brother in law Larry Schmalz.

The family would like to express their deep gratitude to the body of Christ who were Jesus' hands and feet not only to him through this four year battle with pancreatic cancer but also to all of us; Jen Duehr and Kristina Heinzen from Hospice of Dubuque for their excellent care and kindness; our wonderful neighbors Doris and Mike Hayes and family for the endless ways they helped us; and our beautiful Medline family for the many ways they loved us and allowed me to be home and care for our caretaker.

The Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home and Crematory, 2659 JFK Road is in charge of the arrangements.