Daniel C. Cutler - Adel

Daniel Clinton Cutler passed away at home from lung cancer on November 16th with his life-long love, Barb, and daughters, Michelle and Carie, by his side. He was 61 years and 10 months. He was born in Des Moines on January 16, 1951 to Doris (McKinney) and Robert Clinton Cutler. After losing his dad at age 4, his mom met and married Duane Goodson. He spent his younger days growing up in DeSoto and Adel. He attended Adel High School and met the love of his life, Barb Kern, at Pearson's Parkview Drive-In. They were married on May 23, 1969. From this union, their first daughter, Michelle was born in August, 1970. Dan enlisted in the US Army after high school. He entered on March 31, 1971. He was a Huey helicopter crew chief in the Vietnam War. After Vietnam, he was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC and then, at the AAFES station in Omaha, NE. Their second daughter, Carie, was born in March, 1975. He was sent to Germany in 1976, until discharged on November 16, 1977. For the next 31 years, Dan worked as a clerk for the US Postal Service; 21 years at the main office in downtown Des Moines and 10 years at the Dexter office. He officially retired in October, 2009. Dan's motto was, "Without music, life is not worth living." From his drum playing days in this HS band "Pakraish" to attending music concerts (professional and local) to jamming out at home on his guitars and harmonica, music was a cornerstone. His other hobbies included: fishing, camping, gardening, wildlife watching, bowling, martial arts and sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes, Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Barb, their children, Michelle (Aaron) Lester of Indianola and Carie (Lane) Keller of Waukee; their grandchildren, Hannah, Liz, Andrew, Sarah (Lester) and Caiden (Keller); brother Gary Cutler of Holiday, FL, sister Susan (Goodson) Knight of Omaha, NE; uncles Dennis Nelson of West Des Moines and Dick LaPole of Des Moines. Additional survivors include several other cherished cousins, friends and family. Preceding him in death were his parents, Doris and Duane Goodson and Robert Cutler; grandparents McKinney and Goodson; brother David Cutler; Aunt and Uncle Georgia and Jack Pownell; Aunts Donna Nelson, Barb LaPole, and Elizabeth Jane (Cutler) Allen and best friend, Joe Ford. Memorial services will be at 10:30 am Wednesday, November 21 at McCalley Funeral Home. Private family burial will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. Online condolences may be left at mccalleyfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Iowa Hospice (Panora). Service: 10:30 Wednesday, N0vember 21, 2012 McCalley Funeral Home Adel, Iowa