Daniel Lee Schirm
May 9, 1955 — August 9, 2020
Daniel Lee Schirm, 65, of Marion, Iowa, completed his fight with appendiceal cancer at St. Luke’s Hospital on Sunday August 9, 2020, the one-year anniversary of his diagnosis.
Dan was born May 9, 1955, in Anamosa, Iowa, to Eldo and Leona (Poock) Schirm, the fourth of five children. He graduated from Anamosa High School where he played baseball, football, and golf. Dan was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He and his brothers, sons, nephews and eventually grandsons converged annually in St. Louis for a weekend of watching the Red Birds. On the walkway at Busch Stadium is a brick engraved “Dave Mark Dan – Eldo Schirm’s Boys”.
Dan enjoyed playing ball into adulthood, as well as coaching his sons’ youth teams. Sports were always a priority, whether playing golf, bowling, following volleyball, cheering for the Hawks, or his favorite football team, Da Bears!
After reading the Left Behind books and investigating the references he found there with the Bible, Dan came to believe and on March 3, 2001, accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. His “Born Again” birthday was always a special day for him. Shortly thereafter, he was baptized and became a member of Antioch Christian Church. There, Dan met Kay Clouse, whom he married on April 2, 2006. They referred to their blended family as CSI (Clouse & Schirm, Inc.). Dan and Kay were always ‘better together’, be it shopping, golfing, traveling to Arizona, working on projects, or sitting around the firepit in the evenings.
Dan retired in May 2020, from Freund Vector Corporation after 41 years of service. He enjoyed technology, making videos for friends and family celebrations, and known for having the latest electronic gadgets. With Kay, Dan served faithfully in numerous ministries including worship team, media, feeding the junior high, and their current roles of team leaders for the First Impressions Team. Dan’s faith and family were his greatest joys. CSI trips to the Ozarks, NaPa Camp with Papa’s pancakes, reading the Christmas story before opening gifts, helping their children with projects, or watching the grandkids’ sports – all treasured times.
Dan’s family includes his wife, Kay; two sons, Matt (Jessica), Andy (Mandy Campbell); and daughter, Chelsey (Greg Harris); bonus sons, Phillip (Natalie), Patrick (Arissa), and Taylor (Beth) Clouse; twelve grandchildren, Anderson, Lucy, Charlotte, Gabe, Max, PJ, Jamie, Langston, Gwendolyn, LaNysha and Mandy’s girls Avery and Skye; siblings, David (Maryan) Schirm, Marcia (Erv) Oltmanns, Mark (Sue) Schirm, and Deb Schirm (Bryon Ahrendsen); along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Iris Larsen; and nephew, Brandon Ahrendsen.
Dan described his cancer battle as a win/win situation. He was either going to go be with Jesus or remain with those he loved on Earth. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
A visitation will be at the Antioch Christian Church in Marion from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday August 23, 2020, followed by a Celebration of Life. Social distancing will be observed, masks are encouraged. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
Dan was born May 9, 1955, in Anamosa, Iowa, to Eldo and Leona (Poock) Schirm, the fourth of five children. He graduated from Anamosa High School where he played baseball, football, and golf. Dan was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He and his brothers, sons, nephews and eventually grandsons converged annually in St. Louis for a weekend of watching the Red Birds. On the walkway at Busch Stadium is a brick engraved “Dave Mark Dan – Eldo Schirm’s Boys”.
Dan enjoyed playing ball into adulthood, as well as coaching his sons’ youth teams. Sports were always a priority, whether playing golf, bowling, following volleyball, cheering for the Hawks, or his favorite football team, Da Bears!
After reading the Left Behind books and investigating the references he found there with the Bible, Dan came to believe and on March 3, 2001, accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. His “Born Again” birthday was always a special day for him. Shortly thereafter, he was baptized and became a member of Antioch Christian Church. There, Dan met Kay Clouse, whom he married on April 2, 2006. They referred to their blended family as CSI (Clouse & Schirm, Inc.). Dan and Kay were always ‘better together’, be it shopping, golfing, traveling to Arizona, working on projects, or sitting around the firepit in the evenings.
Dan retired in May 2020, from Freund Vector Corporation after 41 years of service. He enjoyed technology, making videos for friends and family celebrations, and known for having the latest electronic gadgets. With Kay, Dan served faithfully in numerous ministries including worship team, media, feeding the junior high, and their current roles of team leaders for the First Impressions Team. Dan’s faith and family were his greatest joys. CSI trips to the Ozarks, NaPa Camp with Papa’s pancakes, reading the Christmas story before opening gifts, helping their children with projects, or watching the grandkids’ sports – all treasured times.
Dan’s family includes his wife, Kay; two sons, Matt (Jessica), Andy (Mandy Campbell); and daughter, Chelsey (Greg Harris); bonus sons, Phillip (Natalie), Patrick (Arissa), and Taylor (Beth) Clouse; twelve grandchildren, Anderson, Lucy, Charlotte, Gabe, Max, PJ, Jamie, Langston, Gwendolyn, LaNysha and Mandy’s girls Avery and Skye; siblings, David (Maryan) Schirm, Marcia (Erv) Oltmanns, Mark (Sue) Schirm, and Deb Schirm (Bryon Ahrendsen); along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Iris Larsen; and nephew, Brandon Ahrendsen.
Dan described his cancer battle as a win/win situation. He was either going to go be with Jesus or remain with those he loved on Earth. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
A visitation will be at the Antioch Christian Church in Marion from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday August 23, 2020, followed by a Celebration of Life. Social distancing will be observed, masks are encouraged. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.
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