Dan Meyer, 80, passed away on March 29, 2018.

Dan was born to Elmer and Marie Meyer on Nov. 29, 1937, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm near Palmer, Iowa, where daily chores included feeding pigs and chickens, milking cows, hauling water for the animals and working in the fields. He attended country school and church every Sunday.

In 1951, the family moved to a new farm near Waltham, Minnesota. Farming duties continued, but with indoor plumbing this time! After years in a one-room schoolhouse, Dan started attending Austin High School. He finished out high school in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota.

After high school, Dan started junior college in Austin, Minnesota, where he met the requirements of an IBM recruiter. He accepted a job and stayed with IBM in Rochester for 17 years. He then worked for smaller companies. He retired from Communications Systems, located in Hector, Minnesota, in 2000.

During his time at Communications Systems, Dan and Marilyn lived in several locations, retiring in Crosby, Minnesota, again moving to Lake City, Minnesota, and recently returning to Rochester, Minnesota.

Dan was always curious and eager for new experiences. He was nothing short of a renaissance man, building boats and golf clubs, baking bread, gardening extensively, dabbling in woodworking, being a member of various local service organizations, volunteering with friends to landscape church grounds and mentoring high school students. He also had a way with words, as friends and family from near and far always anticipated his entertaining Christmas letters.

He was very close with his children and enjoyed golfing, cribbage, hunting and fishing trips. He and Marilyn always looked forward to family gatherings like the traditional Easter egg hunts and old-fashioned family Christmases celebrated in various locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida. His grandkids always looked forward to visits to grandpa and grandma’s house because they knew there would be fun arts and crafts projects and homemade ice cream.

Being a husband, dad and “Papa Dan” was his greatest joy. The love of family was unconditional and he was lucky to be surrounded by so many who thought the world of him: married to Marilyn Austin for 26 years; survived by family members,  Jeff, Deb, Danny and Kevin Meyer, Kelley, Steve and Emiley Sandvik and Steffan Weidenbach, Ben, Kate, Charlie and Gavin Sandvik, Kathy Mike and Emma Gordley, Jay, Jackie, Anne Marie and Claire Meyer, Dan, Melanie, EmmaKate and Natalie Austin, Jim Austin and Lora Koehler, and brother to Jerry and Nancy Meyer, Nancy and Bob Eschrich, and a friend to everyone he met.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 13, 2018, at the First Lutheran Church in Lake City [100 Peace Ridge] with Pastor Tim Ehling from First Lutheran Church and Pastor Glenn Monson from Mount Olive Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials are preferred to Season’s Hospice, First Lutheran Church or Mount Olive Lutheran Church for maintaining their flower gardens or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN 55901. To leave a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.