Dan grew up in Winthrop, Iowa and moved to rural Aurora in 1984, where he dairy farmed until May of 2008. He continues to crop farm and raise beef cattle. His wife, Diane is the Media Specialist for Oelwein Community Schools. They have three children, Kelli, Shawn and Patrick and are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oelwein. Dan is also a member of the Buchanan County Telephone Board, and director for the Buchanan County Farm Bureau. In his free time he enjoys tractorcades, college basketball and spending time with his friends and family. He has been employed at the funeral home since January of 2008.