Daniel L Waidelich

Funeral services for Dan Waidelich will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m., both at McLaren Resthaven Chapel and Mortuary, 801 19th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265. Interment will take place at 12:00 p.m. at Glendale Cemetery, 4909 University Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50311. Following the burial, family and friends are invited to return to McLaren Resthaven Chapel and Mortuary for a luncheon at 12:30 p.m.

Daniel Lee Waidelich, 65, of Norwalk, Iowa was born on May 12, 1960 in Charles City, Iowa, the son of Henry and Myrtle (Richmann) Waidelich. Dan grew up on the family farm, 5 miles southwest of Shell Rock, Iowa. He was baptized May 29, 1960 and later confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church in Shell Rock. Dan attended grade school in Shell Rock and Waverly, graduating from high school in 1978. Following graduation, Dan worked as a farm hand on a neighboring farm.

He moved to Des Moines in 1989 and began working as a warehouseman in shipping and receiving at Iowa Quality Meats in Clive, Iowa. He worked there for 18 years until the plant closed in 2007. He then began working at Ankeny Cold Storage in Ankeny, Iowa until his retirement in May, 2025.

Dan was united in marriage to Joleen Sutherland on February 20, 1993 at Sacred Heart Church in West Des Moines, Iowa. The couple made their home in Norwalk, Iowa.

Dan grew up playing baseball on the family farm. He became a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed watching any and all Iowa College basketball and football games, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Dan had a passion for fishing. He enjoyed dipping his fishing pole in the Shell Rock River as a young man, and frequently fished at Rock Creek State Park later in life. He enjoyed several trips to Weaver’s Wilderness Camp at Red Lake, Ontario, Canada, where he would fish for northerns and walleyes.

Dan loved kids. They gravitated to him without hesitation. He had a special way of connecting with them on their level.

Dan is survived by his beloved wife of more than 32 years, Joleen Waidelich of Norwalk, Iowa. He is also survived by his two sisters, Janet Waidelich of Waverly, Iowa, and Mary (Brian) Qualley of Iowa Falls, Iowa; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dennis and Loretta Enos of West Des Moines, Iowa; and his aunt, Marlys Richmann of Denver, Iowa. He leaves behind his nephew, Brandon (Maria) Qualley, and great-nephew, Luca Qualley; his nieces, Sara Qualley (Patrick Schmidt), Megan Qualley (Jason Hill), and Jenna (Danny) Dhabalt; and great-nephew, Dillion Dhabalt, along with many cherished cousins.

Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Myrtle, and his grandparents and many aunts and uncles.

If you are attending the service, please wear jeans and a team shirt to honor Dan’s lifelong love of sports or something comfortable.

If you were not able to attend the services today, we thank you for being a part of Dan’s life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Dan’s wife, Joleen, with memorial designations to be determined at a later date.