Dan Mick, 41

 

Daniel Lee Mick, 41, Urbandale, passed away Saturday, Mar. 20, 2021, while riding his motorcycle on the Talimena Scenic National Byway in Arkansas. He was born Oct. 7, 1979, in Grinnell to Kevin Lee and Diana Sue (Nikkel) Mick. Dan grew up in Kellogg and was a 1998 graduate of Newton High School. After graduating in 2001 from Vatterott College, Dan made his home in the Des Moines area.

Dan worked for Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines for nearly 20 years, starting as a customer service rep in the call center before moving into his first role in IT on the help desk as a PCT. Most recently, Dan was a specialist technology engineer, a position he held for seven years. Dan desired to continue learning and growing in his career, most recently achieving certification in cybersecurity.

Dan’s interests were continuously growing. He would find a skill or project that intrigued him and immediately began to practice and eventually perfect it. He was a woodworker, making many pieces for family and friends and using his skills to remodel his own home. He became a runner, running regularly with a group of co-workers, and ran in several races, including the Des Moines Half Marathon, Dam to Dam, and the Bix 7. He was a member of teams in the Central Iowa APA Pool League and, along with his team, won a trip to the APA National Team Championships in Las Vegas. He enjoyed bicycling and traveling with his family and helping out any friend or neighbor in need.

Dan had a way of directing his energies to make each person he met feel special; when he made a new friend, it wasn't long before they felt like family.

Survivors include mother, Diana Mick of Kellogg; partner, Jennifer Eaton and children Carter and Avery Jones of Urbandale; sister, Katie (Jeff) Neubauer; nephews, Rhett and Micah Neubauer of Altoona; dog, Tillie; and inherited bird, Petey.

Preceding him in death were his father, Kevin Lee Mick; grandparents, Dewey and Betty (Lanser) Nikkel; and grandparents, Charlene Winifred Lowe Mick Lockwood and Raymond Mick; and stepgrandfather, Neal Lockwood.

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