Born November 18, 1956 in Glencoe, MN, Dan was the son of Leonard ''Buddy'' and Myra (Bentz) Heuer. He grew up on their farm in Hamburg, MN and graduated Lutheran High School in Mayer, MN in 1974. He attended Concordia Teacher's College in Seward, Nebraska where he met his wife Debbie (Schaefer). They were married July 1, 1979 in Edwardsville, IL. She was the love of his life!
After graduation, Dan taught seventh grade and was the youth director at Holy Cross Lutheran Church & School in Detroit, MI, 1979-1982. They moved to Spring, TX where he also taught seventh grade and was youth director at Trinity Lutheran Church & School, Klein, TX, 1982-1984. In 1984 Dan helped to start Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, TX, and was called to be the Spiritual Life Director, and teach the Scripture classes. From 1987-1989 Dan also served as principal there. Throughout his teaching career he coached wrestling, soccer, football, girls softball and even cheerleading!
In 1989 God led Dan (and family) to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. Dan was ordained into the pastoral ministry in 1993. He served St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Davenport, NE, 1993-1998; Holy Cross Lutheran Church and University Lutheran Center in Kearney, NE, 1998-2002; Zion Lutheran Church, Hastings, NE, 2002-2006; and Trinity Lutheran Church, Fremont, NE, 2006-2021.
Dan served as a Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) Pastoral Counselor for the Deshler Zone and Nebraska South District, and was the National LWML Pastoral Counselor 2001-2005. He also served on various committees in the Nebraska District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, served in the Volunteer Fire Department and Lions Club in Davenport, NE and was on the board of directors for Life Choices in Fremont, NE.
To know Dan was to love him. He loved his Lord and his family very much. He had a fun sense of humor, which he brought into his ministry. He was ''not normal.'' Dan loved to cut up and paint cars, and at one time owned a hearse. He also loved m&m's, and called them his ''Ephesians candy.'' They remind us we are ''in Christ,'' just as the chocolate (sin, messes) is inside the shell, Christ is our covering!
Dan's contagious smile, his selfless generosity, and his fervor with which he served the Lord and others were an example for many and will be missed by all who knew him.
Dan was preceded in death by his father, Buddy Heuer and his mother-in-law, Roberta Schaefer. He is survived by his wife Deb and children, Aaron (Calli Ryals), Chagrin Falls, OH; Sarah (Thad) Sankey, Jamestown, ND; Rebekah (Karl) Amereller, Parker, CO; and John, Omaha, NE; grandchildren, Hans Heuer; Eli, Micah, Ben Sankey; and Jazlyn, Henry, Greta Amereller. Also surviving are his mother, Myra (Bentz) Heuer, Young America, MN; brothers, Mark (Sheila) Heuer, Bullard, TX; Tom (Lori) Heuer, Hamburg, MN; father-in-law, Vernon Schaefer, Godfrey, IL; In-laws, Dan (Susan) Schaefer, Giddings, TX; Ruth Duda, Wichita, KS; and Cathy (Chris) Demeur, Buffalo Grove, IL; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fremont on Sunday, December 4, with family present from 2pm to 5pm. The Celebration of Life service will be on Monday, December 5, 2022, 4:00pm., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont. Livestream of the service can be found on https://trinityfremont.com/live/ Private family burial will be held in Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Mission Central, Trinity Lutheran Church, or any local Lutheran School.
Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
Condolences(26)
Marty Miller
TRUMAN, MN Saturday, August 12, 2023 So sad to hear about Dan's passing.Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
God bless
Marty and Marsha Miller
Mary Jo Mehrl (nee Schmalz)
Woodbury, MN Sunday, December 18, 2022 I knew Dan both from high school and Concordia, Seward. I would often catch a ride with him to go home from Seward to MN. I was a freshmen with no car, he was a senior. That year, for Christmas break, we were so eager to get home, that we drove through a blizzard. You could not see the road or possible on-coming cars in front of us! There were at least five of us in his car. Obviously, Dan got us there safely, but I was praying hard and fast for those 7+ hours! I was grateful for the lift and never so glad to be home!May God give you peace knowing he is now safe in the arms of His Savior and he never has to drive in a blizzard again!
Larry and Bonnie Finke
Winona, MN Monday, December 12, 2022 So sorry to hear this, but happy at the same time knowing he is with Jesus. Dan and I grew up together in Hamburg and attended Mayer LHS.“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”
Mitch & Priscilla (Peimann) Klintworth
Staplehurst, NE Monday, December 12, 2022 So very sorry to read the news. May Jesus continue to hold you close as you grieve and look forward to the blessed reunion in Heaven.Norma Noller
KEARNEY, NE Sunday, December 11, 2022 Deb and family, I was saddened to hear of Pastor Dan's passing. What a beautiful memorial service tribute for him. My heart aches for your entire family, but rejoices for Pastor Dan. So many great memories of your time with us here at Holy Cross in Kearney. Keeping you all in my prayers as you grieve your loss. Please accept our sincere sympathy.Norma Noller, Michelle, Tiffany, Sara and Michael
Gordon and Sherra Milled
houston, TX Tuesday, December 6, 2022 Dearest Debbie and family,We are so sad to hear of Dan's passing.
We remember him so fondly from Concordia Lutheran High School.
We was a great friend to us and to our son, Jason.
Gerald & Pauline Bergt
Fairmont, MN Monday, December 5, 2022 You are in our prayers and thoughts.Will Christian
Tyler, TX Monday, December 5, 2022 So sorry to hear of Dan Heuer's passing and my deepest condolences to his family. Coach Heuer had a huge heart! And he was the heart & soul of Concordia Lutheran HS during it's first few years. I was privileged to have been taught and coached by him during that time. I remember his friendly and engaging spirit most of all. There was a popular Christian heavy metal band at that time, Stryper, that he went with us to go see at the Houston Coliseum. I remember thinking how cool it was to have a school teacher who would do that. That was the type of engaging person he was with teenagers.Andrew Balberg
Friendswood, TX Monday, December 5, 2022 Just found out the news today. Our condolences and prayers to all left behind.Dan is the reason I accepted Christ. I can’t begin to express the gratitude or the privilege I have for knowing him and his family. This crazy guy was fun as my teacher, football coach and principle in high school. Being a Christian was far from being boring with Dan he was one cool dude. RIP brother
Kaysee
Jamestown, ND Monday, December 5, 2022 Sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers for your family.Janet McGregor
Fremont, NE Sunday, December 4, 2022 I considered knowing Pastor Dan a gift from God. I started attending Trinity about the time he retired. But, I'd see him at services and chat with him a minute. I remember I'd say something like, "That's a beautiful red shirt you have on and he would say, "Red is my favorite color." But just looking at his face I could see the Lords glow shinning through him. God Bless and comfort all him family and friends.John Hughes
San Antonio, TX Sunday, December 4, 2022 I taught at Concordia Lutheran HS under Dan his first year as Principal in 87. He was a fantastic educator with so much passion who truly loved his staff and students. I’m saddened by his passing but know he is with Jesus now. Peace to his family.Rodney Meske
Bennington, NE Sunday, December 4, 2022 Thanks be to God who gives us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. May Christ comfort you in your time of grief and renew your joy.Larry Saalfeld
Tomball, TX Saturday, December 3, 2022 Vicki and I send our prayers and condolences with a deep appreciation of Dan's calling and service. May God's peace fill your hearts and minds.Mike and Sue Goebel
Dorsey, IL Saturday, December 3, 2022 Dear Debbie and family you have our deepest sympathy's. we are thinking of you and reading of your full life together, sounds like a lot of wonderful memories that your family and friends will remember fondly. Our thoughts will be with you tomorrow and days to come. God keep you in his loving hands as Iknow he will. Much love and prayers Mike and Sue Goebel
Kathy / Darroll Sissel
North Bend, NE Saturday, December 3, 2022 We were so blessed to have Dan around during my daughter cancer fight although he was dx with cancer himself he was right there at the Omaha hospitals and our home praying with us all. He always told me when we lost her that "the harder you grief the more you loved them". He would tell us that loosing a child had to be the hardest to coop with. He was always there for everyone else, but we prayed for him and his family as well. Rest in peaceful Heaven Pastor Dan. You are so loved always and forever.Tim Howard
Fremont, NE Saturday, December 3, 2022 What a wonderful man! He will surely be missed in this life, although we know he is in Christ's presence now. I've known Dan since his first church in Davenport, NE (my wife's home church). He was a wonderful preacher and teacher when we first knew him, and was the same years later when he came to serve in Fremont. To Dan's family - many will be thinking of you and praying for you as you mourn Dan's absence from you in this life, but know that he was used by God to bless MANY people during his time with us. We will all enjoy being reunited with Dan someday. May God comfort you during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to you.Larry and Debbie Pittz
Gibbon, NE Saturday, December 3, 2022 Please accept our condolences on Pastor Dan's passing. He was a very special Pastor with a great gift for reaching people. We will keep you all in our prayers.Len
Kearney, NE Saturday, December 3, 2022 Prayers to the Heuer family. As a long time worker at UNK I got to know Pastor Heuer. Later became a member of Holy Cross and pastor Dan did my wedding there. Always enjoyed my visits with him in Kearney .Wayne E Stuenkel
VESTAVIA HILLS, AL Saturday, December 3, 2022 My mother was a life-long member of Trinity. Unfortunately, none of her family were in town when she passed away on a Sunday in 2009. I will never forgot how Pastor Heuer stayed patiently by her hospital bed after her death, at mid-day after he had conducted worship services that morning, until I arrived so that he could pray with me.I will be forever grateful to Pastor Heuer for his kindness.
Scott Chene
Spring, TX Friday, December 2, 2022 You have gone home to the mansion God prepared for you. You were an incredible man of God that taught many lessons that people never knew. I will not remember you taking the car and putting the floor of the church they tore down on the back to make a truck and you and I driving to the High School hoping no one saw us (definitely not street legal). I also remember you taking us to the bad part of Houston to bring food and scripture to the people. You are in the Lord's house now. It is time for you reward for being a good and faithful servant. Mrs Heuer and all the children and grandchildren he was a great man and I am sure you have memories and lessons he taught. Never forget those things.Tiffany
Kearney, NE Friday, December 2, 2022 Sending thoughts and prayers. Pastor Dan was one of a kind. He was a wonderful Pastor, father, husband, grandfather the list goes on. May he fly high in heaven. Well done my good and faithful servant welcome to place where you belong.Janelle Pittz
Kearney, NE Friday, December 2, 2022 You are all in my thoughts and prayers! Pastor Dan helped me through a lot and I am forever grateful. He will no doubt be missed by many!God's Peace,
Janelle
Kenneth Alderman
Fremont, NE Friday, December 2, 2022 It was an honor to know Pastor Dan.Jim and Jean Brown
Fremont, NE Friday, December 2, 2022 Deb and family, so very sorry for the loss of Pastor Dan, he will be missed by you and your families and all the people that he came in contact with. He was a very special person, husband, father and a friend to all. God Bless him for all he did at Trinity. Sending our prayers and love.Jim and Jeanne Brown.
Elizabeth Clonkey
Muskego, WI Friday, December 2, 2022 Debbie, Aaron, Sarah, Bekkah, and John, You are all in my thoughts and prayers! Your family became my family in Davenport, and I will always think fondly of the times I spent with you. I will never forget my interview when Pastor Dan's first question was, "How do you feel about people from Mayer, MN," because he knew that I had attended Concordia Academy in Roseville, and Mayer Lutheran were our arch-rivals. What a unique way to break down walls and help me overcome my anxiety. He was an awesome pastor for my first call!