Daniel Cruise aka DanDantheCameraman Dwyer

Dwyer, Daniel Cruise aka DanDantheCameraman Beloved father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, passed away suddenly the morning of Oct. 30 at his home in Minneapolis. Born April 20, 1961 in Iowa City to Thomas and Sylva (Steckler) Dwyer, he graduated from the University of Iowa in 1984 and began a videography and photojournalism career that took him around the world, working for television stations in Davenport, Tucson, Nashville, Denver, and finally Minneapolis where he began his own business, Dan Dwyer Productions, in 1999. His work earned great respect, including at least six Emmys and countless other awards. Despite many professional accomplishments and a vast network of friends, his greatest pride was his daughter Sophie, and his most satisfying achievement was in being her father. Dan loved nature and adventure, and lived every moment of his life to the fullest. He completed many RAGBRAI rides, and enjoyed canoe and camping trips with friends and family. He had many gifts, but one that all who knew him will recall was friendship. He made us feel loved, respected and admired, and all returned those feelings. His humor, courage, dignity and integrity uplifted those around him, while his bravery and selflessness in the face of awful burdens serve as examples to all who witnessed his battle against multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. Dan is survived by his daughter, Sophie, of Minneapolis, and his girlfriend Melonie Jeska, the two people closest to him in the last months of his life; his mother, Sylva Dwyer Anderson of Rochester, MN; brother Michael (San Diego, wife Denise and son Jack), sister Kimberlee Choate (Kyle's Ford, TN and son Tyler of Little Rock, AR); brother Jeffrey (Iowa City, wife Chris) and his daughters Carrie Wilson (North Liberty, IA) and Kaci Maire (Cedar Rapids, IA); sister Jane Hunter (Rochester, MN) and her daughters Emily and Jessica; uncle Terrence Dwyer of Fort Dodge, IA; grandniece Maddelin Maire; grandnephews Elliot Maire and Tate Wilson; numerous cousins including the Paul and Steven Heiring families of Minneapolis; two stepsisters, Carrie Anderson (St. Louis Park, MN) and Janet Anderson (Everett, WA); and stepbrother Bryn Riska (Baltimore). Dan was preceded in death by his father (1975), his stepfather Ed Anderson (2003) and all of his grandparents. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2 p.m. at Lensing Mortuary, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City. An informal celebration of Dan's life will be held at Roadies (720 Pacha Parkway, North Liberty) with dinner from 4-5 p.m., continuing until 9. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (themmrf.org), or for the benefit of the Sophie Dwyer college savings account (Edward Jones, 8001 Highway 7, St. Louis Park, MN 55426).