Daniel Peter Schwartz

Daniel Peter Schwartz of West Des Moines, lost his battle with cancer and passed quietly at the Des Moines Veterans Hospice surrounded by family on Thursday, November 17, 2016.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, November 22, 2016 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Mass in Dan’s honor will be held Wednesday, November 23 at 9:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1627 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines followed by burial at 11:00 a.m. at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel. Dan's celebration of life will be held at the American Legion Post #403, 910 Main Street in Van Meter at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome and encouraged to wear your Mardi Gras beads.

Dan was born February 17, 1932 in Lincoln, Nebraska, son of Alfred and Esther Schwartz of Lincoln, Nebraska. He met the bride of his life, Sharon McKinley in Council Bluffs, Iowa and they were married September 19, 1952. Dan enlisted in the US Airforce and proudly served 4 years during the Korean War. He attended Creighton University and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Dan and Sharon moved with their expanding family to West Des Moines in 1965.

Over the next 30 years, Dan spent years developing his own companies and was an extraordinary entrepreneur. He loved to travel and fly small aircrafts. As a pilot, Dan flew his family and friends to destinations where together they created memories of a lifetime.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sharon; his children, Mary (Bill) Bauder of Corpus Christi, TX, Michael (Cindy) Schwartz of Excelsior, MN, Amy (Bob) Colacello of Fort Myers, FL, and Ellyn (Mike) Knapp of Des Moines, IA; his brother, Al (Evie) of Omaha, NE; grandchildren, Jessica (Tyler) Crubaugh, David (Ashlee) Schwartz, Kyle and Carley Schwartz, and Katelyn Knapp; great-grandchildren, John and Madelyn Crubaugh.

Dan and his family would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to the entire staff at Des Moines Veterans Hospital CLC Unit for their care, compassion and kindness shared over the past months.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Des Moines Veteran Hospice Palliative Care Unit, 3600 30th Street, CLC2 Building 12, Des Moines, IA 50310. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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