Daniel William Goerdt, 74, of The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family.
Daniel was born in 1950 to Mary Alice (O’Hare) and Delbert William Goerdt and raised in Dyersville, Iowa, where he learned the values of hard work, family, kindness, and community that shaped his life. After college, his career path took him into toys and sporting goods sales all over the Midwest. He settled outside of Chicago where he was a partner in Reicher Goerdt Sales and Marketing.
In 1997 he married his best friend and love of his life Jennifer and together they lived in Crystal Lake, IL with their four boys. In 2015, Daniel and Jennifer retired to The Villages, Florida, where they embraced a vibrant community, made dear friends, and enjoyed the sunshine, relaxation and lots of pickleball they so richly deserved.
Daniel is survived by his beloved wife Jennifer Goerdt; his four sons, Donald Snyder (Carla), Bob Snyder, Thomas Goerdt (Lauren), and Chris Goerdt (Mila); and his treasured grandchildren, Chloe Snyder, Audrey Snyder, and Lilliana Goerdt. He is also survived by his loving siblings, Patricia Ries (Eldon), Cheryl Greenwood (Robert), and Terry Goerdt (Mary Jo), Father-in-Law Robert Shannon, Shannon Family Members, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and lifelong friends.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, nephews Jeff and Ryan Ries, Mother-in-Law Helen Shannon, Brother-in-law Richard Philbrick, Grandparents and several aunts, Uncles, and cousins. Daniel will be remembered for his gentle spirit, quick wit, love of baseball (a 1968 Beckman High School Blazers championship player) and unwavering devotion to his family. He had a warm smile for everyone he met and a way of making people feel at ease. His legacy of love, laughter, and integrity will live on in all who knew him.
A celebration of Daniel’s life will be held in The Villages, Florida on October 21 and in Dyersville, Iowa on November 1, where family and friends will gather to share stories and honor his memory.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Daniel’s memory to a charity of your choice, in keeping with his generous and compassionate spirit.