Daniel Alan Corsair

Daniel Alan Corsair, a big man with an even bigger heart, died peacefully on February 9, 2026 at his home in Indianola, Iowa, following a 2-year battle with cancer. He was 78. Dan was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on November 22, 1947, to Alvin and Marie G. Corsair. By 9th grade he had grown to his full height of 6'6", although he never really played basketball!

While a student at Fort Dodge High School, he hung drywall in the summer and played baritone bugle in the Fort Dodge Lanciers Drum & Bugle Corps. He was very proud of the fact that the Lanciers marched in President Kennedy's Inaugural Parade in 1961. After graduating from Ft. Dodge High School in 1966, he attended Iowa Central Community College in Ft. Dodge where he earned an associate's degree in electrical engineering. After graduation, he landed his first job with Western Electric in St. Louis, Missouri, a subsidiary of AT&T. It was at Western Electric that he made several life-long friends. During this time, he got word that his draft number would soon be up, and as a very tall young man, decided to enlist, rather than be drafted. He made a hasty return to Ft. Dodge and enlisted with the United States Army. He was deployed to Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam in 1970, where he served in the 1st Signal Brigade, maintaining long-line telephone communications. When troops were withdrawn from Vietnam in 1971, he returned to Fort Monmouth, New Jersy and completed his enlistment as an instructor for the United States Army Signal Center, receiving several commendations as a Very Good Instructor.

Following an honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Western Electric in St. Louis, but shortly thereafter left to form a custom homebuilding company with his first wife and a 3rd partner. Together they built over 250 homes in the St. Louis area. During this time Dan earned a bachelor's degree from Maryville University in Business Management and was active in the Homebuilders Association of St. Louis as well as becoming a mediator with the Home Warranty Program. In the mid-1980's following a divorce, he transitioned into residential real estate, selling hundreds of homes during his career as "Big Dan" Corsair.

In 1996, he met his current wife, Mary (Fouts), at a meeting of the Webster Groves Toastmasters, where Dan was a visiting Area Governor and Mary was president of her local club. Dan and Mary were married on June 28, 1997 at the First United Methodist Church of Webster Groves, Missouri. Some of Dan's loves, (besides his wife, Mary), were boating on any lake (he owned a boat before he owned a car and his fondest memory was of fishing in Saskatchewan), and ALL things construction. From the preparation of the ground and watching big machines work, to the roof and interior, Dan was knowledgeable about every aspect of both building and buying/selling a home.

He was an excellent problem solver, a wonderful resource and loved helping people. He was committed to ALWAYS doing things well and "right." As a homebuilder Dan was proud that his homes were always well-built to stand the test of time. In 2018 Dan and Mary moved to Indianola to help her mom, Dru McLuen. In addition to construction, Dan's other passions included learning about and using technology, smoking all kinds of meat, trying to get the Warren County Democrats organized and his German Shepherd dogs. He was a collector of tools for every purpose, gadgets and flashlights. He was also very proud of his military service and spoke often about the wonderful services provided by the VA in Des Moines.

Dan was preceded in death by his father, mother, and an older sister Mary Jeanne (Corsair) Porter of Ft. Dodge. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Mary, of Indianola, brother-in-law Jim Porter of Fort Dodge, a niece Lynne Porter of Clare, Iowa, a great-niece Devon Porter also of Clare, and 2 other great-nephews Zachary and Ryan.

Services will be held 10:30 a.m., March 6, 2026, at the Indianola First United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held prior to services from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will follow services in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel, IA at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Iowa (GSDRI), VA Central Iowa Healthcare System or Indianola First United Methodist Church.