Dan Gessner (1991-2020)

GESSNER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/26/2020 at 16:12:52

Dan Gessner, 28, Dubuque, IA was found on the shore of the Mississippi River just north of Bellevue, IA on Saturday, May 16, 2020. He had been missing since October 21, 2019. His family and friends are heartbroken that the search for Dan has ended this way.

A private family visitation will be held at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. A live stream of Dan’s funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30th, 2020 on Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory’s Facebook page. Pastor Matthew Collins will officiate and burial will be in Rockdale United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Dan was born May 26, 1991 in Sioux City, IA to Mark and Shelly (Shimon) Gessner. He is the second of four children in the Gessner Family. The Gessner’s moved to Dubuque from Sioux City, IA in March 1999.

Dan graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 2009. He was a regular host of the Wednesday Night Comedy Club at the Mississippi Moon Bar and he was employed as a Shift Manager at Caribou Coffee in Dubuque. Dan served in the U.S. Army in 2010 and was honorably discharged due to injury sustained in military service. Prior to moving back to Dubuque in 2019, he was employed as a Sales Representative with the Brooklyn Roasting Company in New York City.

Dan was involved in Dark Chambers Haunted Attraction since high school. He was a game night volunteer for Dubuque Thunderbirds Hockey and was an active participant in Dubuque Community Theater for many years.

Dan was an aspiring stand-up comedian and he inspired countless lives in Dubuque with his humor, his kindness and his generosity toward everyone he met. He always put the needs of others ahead of his own, even if he didn’t know them well and he will be truly missed.

Dan is survived by his parents, Mark and Shelly Gessner of Dubuque, sisters Jackie (Mark) Scott of Shullsburg, WI and Elisabeth (Drazen) Vukovic of Galena, IL and brother Ben (Stacy) Gessner of Clarksville, TN. He is also survived by his grandparents Ray and Mary Lou Shimon of Pocahontas, IA and Al and Becky Gessner of Arizona City, AZ along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephew and friends. Dan was the world’s greatest uncle and he will be dearly missed by Emma, Taylor, Kaile, Cora and Genevieve.

Dan was proceeded in death by his great grandparents, his Great Uncle Dale Wagner and Great Aunts Mardie Shager, Kay Shager and Anice Gessner.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial account in Dan’s name has been established at Dubuque Bank and Trust.

The Gessner Family would like to thank East Dubuque Police, East Dubuque Fire & Rescue, Dubuque Police, Dubuque County Sheriff, Iowa DNR, Jackson County Sheriff, Jo Davies County Sheriff and the Greater Dubuque/East Dubuque Community for all the support, love and assistance that we have received. Words truly cannot express our thanks.