SPIRIT LAKE — Dan Tryon, 65, is being remembered as a businessman, sports enthusiast, coach, organizer and devoted family man whose ventures and community involvement touched many people in the Iowa Great Lakes area and beyond.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, September 17, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church, 3501 Hill Avenue in Spirit Lake. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. and continue until the service. A come-and-go Celebration of Life gathering will follow at 3 p.m. at The Venue, 1605 Hill Avenue in Spirit Lake.
Danny Dale Tryon was born January 7, 1961, in Fort Dodge to Dale Lee Tryon and Janet Ann Tryon. He graduated from Ames High School in 1979 and later earned an accounting degree from Iowa State University.
Dan married Connie Marie Tryon on April 4, 1998, in Estherville. Over the years, he lived in communities across Iowa as well as New Mexico, Colorado and Virginia before he and Connie made Spirit Lake their home in 2000.
Dan built a career that reflected his wide-ranging interests and entrepreneurial spirit. He began as an accountant for DPR and later co-owned Sportsmans, The Funny Barn Comedy Club, Cardio Plus 24 Hour Health Club, Great Lakes Pizza and Consignment Corner with his brothers. He was also heavily involved with The Venue and owned franchises for Principal Financial Group and Murphy Business.
He was active in First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, belonged to the Chamber of Commerce and previously served on the church board at Grace Lutheran Church. He was a regular participant in Brooks Golf League and Pool League.
Staying active was a major part of Dan’s life. He enjoyed biking, weightlifting and golf, and his love of cycling led him to help organize rides including BRASL, the Tiki Ride and RAGBRAI-related outings. His enthusiasm for golf also helped inspire the Sportsmans Labor Day Golf Tournament.
Dan was known as someone who enjoyed organizing events — and the spreadsheets that went with them.
Sports were another constant. He followed Iowa State football and tailgating closely and was also a Green Bay Packers fan. He enjoyed coaching and motivating others, taught workout classes at Cardio Plus, and spent years coaching his daughter Katie in little league and volleyball.
Above all, Dan’s family said he valued time with family and friends. He enjoyed traveling to visit people he cared about and often used his interests, business ventures and community activities as ways to bring people together and help others.
Dan passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Connie Tryon of Spirit Lake; son Aaron Kruse of Kansas City, Kansas; daughter Katie Tryon of Elkhorn, Nebraska; mother Janet Tryon of Ames; sister Jodie (Doug) Stokke of Story City; brothers Donnie Tryon and Dave (Michelle) Tryon, both of Spirit Lake; numerous nieces and nephews; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dale Tryon of Ames; paternal grandparents Clarence and Dorothy Tryon of Glidden; maternal grandparents Emanuel and Lucille Petersen of Glidden; and other extended family members.
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