The funeral service for restaurant owner Daniel F. Mayer, 72, of Hosmer is 10:30 Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church in Hosmer. The Rev. Patrick Hahn will lead the service.
Friends and family may gather a half hour prior to the service at the church.
A second celebration of Dan's life will be held in Isanti, Minn., in early June, followed by inurnment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Daniel Fredrick Mayer was born June 6, 1940, at Littlefork, Minn., to John Arthur and Audrey (Miller) Mayer. He was raised in Minneapolis and attended school there, graduating from Washburn High School.
Following high school, Dan joined the United State Marines. As a marine, he proudly served as an aviation electrician. He was honorably discharged from service in 1965.
Dan returned to Minnesota and attended Minnesota State University Mankato and graduated with a bachelor of arts in political science and geology. His career path started with a position as a test inspector for Honeywell in Minneapolis and then as a sales engineer with Gould National Battery in New York City. He returned to Minnesota and put his degree to work as a program director for the Community Action Council in Waseca and Mora, Minn.
He had married Charlotte Imm and had two sons, Nick and Tim. Dan later married Kristen Lind and they made their home in North Branch, Minn.
Dan's passion was in the restaurant business. He purchased his first restaurant in 1972, in Cambridge, Minn. In 1985, he started Bosco's Burgerworld Restaurants and its first location in North Branch, Minn. In just seven years, he had three locations and eventually the small chain was bought by McDonalds Corporation. Dan then turned his attention to two restaurants in Finlayson, Minn., and eventually built a new restaurant in 1998.
In 2001, Dan and Kris moved from Minnesota for the slower more peaceful pace of the South Dakota prairie and took over the Dakota Café in Hosmer. He was devoted to the restaurant business, not taking any significant time off since 1972. Just three weeks ago, his health turned for the worse and he was forced into a three week retirement.
Over the years, Dan loved to run errands, as it was his escape from the restaurants. He enjoyed fantasy football and was a community source of football statistics. He could also be found gardening. One of his greatest joys was coming home at the end of a long day to see and spend time with his animals. Isabelle, his loyal dog, stayed by his side through his illness and passing. Dan died Saturday, April 20, 2013, in the peace of his own home in Hosmer, just as he had requested.
He is survived by his wife, Kristen; two sons: Nick Mayer of Finlayson, Minn., and Tim (Nicole) Mayer of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; four grandchildren: Tristan, Charlie, Bryan and Nicole; two brothers: John (Shirley) Mayer of Isle, Minn., and Jeff (Debbie) Mayer of Cambridge, Minn.; many in-laws; and nieces and nephews; many friends; his trusted dog, Isabelle; three horses; and many cats.
His parents preceded him in death.
Services through Gramm Funeral Home of Ipswich.
Online guestbook at grammfuneralhome.com.