Daniel L Smith

     Daniel Lee Smith age 69 from Dakota City, NE died at Accura HealthCare, Hartington NE on June 21, 2025, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

     Daniel Smith was born December 29, 1955, in Davenport IA to Herbert and Mary Rose (Heidgerkin) Smith. Dan grew up a mile west of Long Grove Iowa on a small farm where him and his siblings worked together in the garden, in the fields, and raised farm animals. Him and his sister Debbie raised rabbits and sold them to the local grocery stores for some spare cash. He grew up with 10 siblings, they learned to raise each other and help out around the farm. After graduation, Daniel moved to Colorado to work for Aspen Ski Corp running snow cat and operating a ski lift. While out in Colorado he spent time on a Kings Guest Ranch owned by his first cousin Gary Belk and Phyllis. He took people on horseback rides, up to guided fishing spots up in the mountains. Kings Ranch was also a safe place for troubled teens for teaching life skills.

     After that Dan went on to pursue his education at Northwest Iowa Technical College where he received a degree in mechanic for heavy equipment, operation, and maintenance. From there, he was maintenance manager and a mechanic for Sludge Express, Missouri Valley Machinery, Phillips Kiln Service, Anderson Farms, Burns-Clark machine, Weller plastics, Wis-Pak plastics, and Cat machinery. He was finally able to open DNS Landscaping, Inc. and owned-operated successfully it for 35 years. Dan made his legacy in many towns with his business due to his one shop capabilities from retaining walls, hydro seeding, sodding, and erosion control etc. He was very intelligent, kind, and admired by many. He could fix and design just about anything.

Daniel met his first wife, Susan (Berg) Smith when attending school at Northwest technical College in Sheldon IA. They were married in Rock Rapids, IA May 26, 1979. From that union they had three sons, Nathan Daniel, Tony, and Benjamin. Many memories were made. Such as family vacations. Daniel then met his long-time devoted girlfriend and partner Debi Klemme in June 2009. She worked alongside him every day and by his side till the end. In 2018 they decided to retire to the lake in Crofton, NE.

      He is survived by Debi Klemme, his children Tony (Stacey) Smith Spring Hill, Kansas and Benjamin (Samantha) Smith Omaha, grandchildren Harlan, Wrenley, Kaden, Nathan, Brennan, Landon and Grayson. his siblings Dana Smith Rock Island, Illinois, Deborah (Ronald) Wallace Long Grove, Iowa, Doug Smith (Carla) North Liberty, Iowa, Deanna (Bob) Holst Bettendorf, Iowa, Darren Smith Davenport, Iowa Dave (Mary) Smith McClausland Iowa, Donnie Smith Davenport, Iowa, Dean Smith Davenport, Iowa and Darcy (Pete) McCormick Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Along with several nieces and nephews.

     Daniel was proceeded in death by his parents, infant son Nathan, and his brother Dickson, nephew Dusty, and sister in laws Rose and Terri.

      A celebration of life will be held at the American Legion South Sioux City NE at a later date. Dan’s cremated ashes will return along with his beloved dog Rusty to the shop DNS Landscaping Inc where they both loved to be.