KEOKUK – Daniel “Dan” Gutting, 64 of Keokuk, passed away Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Dan was born May 4, 1960, in Keokuk, to Gene and Rachel Gutting.
He grew up in Kahoka, Missouri. He was a rambunctious kid and loved playing baseball. Those knowing him growing up referred to him as Danny, Archie, or Arch.
He said he always knew he was back home when he heard those names. Dan lived a life full of hard work and fun. He graduated Clark County R-1 High School in 1978 and, after working on the family farm for a bit, decided it was time to pursue his next love, radio.
Dan attended college in Maryville obtaining a degree in broadcasting. After that Dan began his career working on air radio, utilizing his gifted deep voice. With his savvy intellect he eventually shifted over to the business side of broadcasting.
Over his career he worked at many stations throughout the United States, often restructuring stations which he said were his favorite times. His favorite places where he lived and worked were Brownsville, Texas, and Jacksonville, Florida, where he ended up falling in love with the area and planted roots next to the beach for 30 years. While there he continued his successful career in radio, even doing play by play for the Jacksonville Jaguars, which would forever remain his favorite football team.
Eventually with his vast broadcasting talents and experience, Dan ended up switching directions once again and worked in TV in Jacksonville as well. His loves in Jacksonville, besides the Jaguars, were golfing with friends, hosting parties, and being out on the beach as much as possible. Despite his career travels and dedication, Dan was devoted to his family.
He always said regardless of the many miles between him and his sister Susan and brother John, they all knew he was there for them if they ever needed him. And he would be there in a second. His love for his nieces and nephews (Sarandon, Sierra, Colin, Killian, and Carissa) was vast.
He would show pictures and brag on their accomplishments, share in their heartaches, and truly wear the uncle, and eventually great-uncle, title proudly. They gave him more joy than they could possibly know. After the loss of his father, Dan began returning to Kahoka each summer to assist his mother who would return from Arizona.
There he got to revisit his love for the family farm. In 2020, he decided it was finally time to hang up his beach towel and return back home. He said being back home was the next adventure of his life.
While back home Dan enjoyed the family farm and once again got to see his favorite season, fall. Not having that in Florida, he said he forgot just how beautiful it is. Once back home Dan also embarked on an adventure he didn’t have planned.
He and his future wife Sarah were introduced through a blind date email by a mutual friend and neither one of them saw what was coming. The wonderful unexpected rest was history meant to happen. They officially became husband and wife on Jan.
4, 2024. Dan was the most amazing husband. He gave everything he had to whatever he was doing and being a husband was no exception, despite it happening later in life.
It’s no surprise that Dan also excelled at becoming a father to Abbygail as their bond grew over the years. Dan and Sarah lived in Keokuk. Dan was very proud of their home and loved talking about the next home project to tackle.
Dan and Sarah loved sitting out on their back patio and enjoyed just being there with each other. He was at his happiest when his house was filled with friends and family surrounded by an abundance of food that he would’ve spent hours smoking and cooking, happily. He was a phenomenal cook, loving to try any new recipe.
Anyone having the pleasure of knowing Dan experienced his great sense of humor. He could make you laugh with just one sentence. Often he would tell stories of years of adventures with his lifelong college best friends Mark and Larry, reliving the fun each time.
Every year the three fanatical St. Louis Cardinals fans would head to spring training to take in their love of team, and inevitably create new stories, some of which will forever remain between only them. To say he will be missed is the biggest understatement that has ever been made.
The world lost the best husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend that anyone could’ve ever been blessed to have. He was truly a good man. He was taken far too soon to which we will never understand why.
Hearts will forever be broken. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m.
Friday at Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, with the Rev. Derek Olsen officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service from 11 a.
m. to 1 p.m.
, with the family meeting with friends at that time. Online condolences may be sent to the family at ..
