Daniel P. Brookhart

Daniel P. Brookhart, 80, of Iowa City died Friday, September 13, 2024 surrounded by family. 

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for Dan at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 916 E. Rusholme Street, Davenport. The Mass will be livestreamed by clicking the following link: St. Paul the Apostle Burial will in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport with military honors. Visitation will be held at church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Memorials may be made to Camp Courageous or Vietnam Veterans of America Post #299. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Daniel P. Brookhart was born on September 21, 1943 in Davenport, son of Cleo O’Dell and Bernadine Elizabeth (Ryan) Brookhart, the youngest of four sons. After graduating in 1962 from Assumption High School, Dan attended Creighton University to play basketball his freshman year. He transferred to the University of Iowa where he graduated in 1966. Dan served our country in the Army during the Vietnam War from 1967 until 1969. He was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Hart on August 9, 1969 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. 

Dan enjoyed a long teaching career, retiring in 2005 from Muscatine High school, where he taught History, Social Studies and Psychology. Following his retirement from teaching, he started DPB Driving School where he taught Driver's Education to many students in the Iowa City area. 

Iowa City was where Dan made his home. He reveled in sharing his love for Hawkeye sports with his children. Many a Saturday morning Dan would sing the Iowa fight song to rouse the Brookhart children from their beds. Dan enjoyed his summers with the family exploring national parks in the US, detasseling, or as the head chef at summer camps. He created opportunities for his children to participate in the camp activities, appreciate nature, and learn all the John Denver songs. As the years passed, weeks at Rest Lake in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin near YMCA’s Camp Jorn, became a cherished family vacation spot. 

Dan took the time to appreciate the joy and happiness in life. He lived with gratitude for the opportunity to share his gentle spirit, laughter, and wit. He celebrated the Christmas season by making his fabulous fudge with his daughter Kathleen and shared it with those he loved. His retirement was spent enjoying his children, cheering on his grandchildren at their athletic events, and chauffeuring his grand dogs to Costco for hot dogs. He enjoyed the comradery at Riverside Casino where it seemed that everyone knew his name. 

Those left to honor his memory are his lifetime companion, Mary Hart; Iowa City, children: Jenifer (Phil) Mische, Maureen (Steven Connell, Jr.) Brookhart, Daniel R. Brookhart, Kathleen Brookhart, and Brian (Paola) Brookhart; his six grandchildren: Alexandra, Oliver, Caitlyn, Ronan, Adam, and Cody; cherished siblings: Jack Brookhart, Gerald (Sally) Brookhart, and William Brookhart, his dear Hart in-laws, and many nieces and nephews.  He was joyfully welcomed home by his parents, parents-in-law, Phyllis Ann and Stephen A. Hart, sisters-in-law, Irene, Donna, and Becky Brookhart, Jane and Patricia Hart, Sue Johnson; brothers-in-law Stephen, BJ, Kevin, Michael, Thomas Hart, Le Wirth and his grand-dogs, Finley and Clover. His great aunt-in-law K. Therese certainly had a poker game ready for his arrival.