Dan’s Band brings polka to seniors in Butler County

Sheffield man is on a mission to inspire joy through music
    “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away” was just one of the songs Dan’s Band, also known as Dan’s One Man Polka Band, played at Clarksville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Clarksville on St. Patrick’s Day.
    Dan Steenhard of Sheffield has been bringing polka to the elderly of Iowa since 1989. Earlier this week he visited the care centers in Allison and Dumont, and after leaving Clarksville he headed over to the care center in Greene.
    When performing as a one-man band, Steenhard plays an accordion, electric keyboard and occasionally a button accordion. His selections ranged from polkas and waltzes to country and gospel music, big band and Irish tunes.
    “My dad loved music and when we left the farm, it was something to do. We just got more and more into it. It’s been a fun way to make people happy,” Steenhard said.
Read more in the March 23 edition of the Clarksville Star.