Wheat, Dale B. (1933-2014)

WHEAT, ECKELBERGER, HUGHES, SUNDBERG, GOFF

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/27/2014 at 17:10:10

Dale B. Wheat
May 16, 1933 - February 02, 2014

Storm Lake, Iowa

Dale Burdette Wheat, age 80, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on February 2, 2014, at his home in Storm Lake.

The son of Charles B. and J. Elaine (Eckelberger) Wheat, Dale was born on May 16, 1933, on a farm in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The first of two children born to his parents, he grew up in Storm Lake with his younger sister, Gayle. He attended North and West Elementary Schools and graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1951.

In September of 1952, Dale began working at the U.S. Post Office in Storm Lake as a substitute clerk/carrier. His father was the Superintendent of Mails at that time. Having formed C&D Services, he and his father also painted houses in their spare time. Indeed, they painted many of the houses in Storm Lake, both inside and outside.

On January 24, 1953, Dale married Elizabeth Ann Hughes. To this union, a daughter, Lori Arlyne, was born on January 28, 1957.

Having volunteered for the draft, Dale was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1954. He had his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. In September of that year, he was shipped to Korea for a tour of duty. He finished this tour and returned to the U.S. at the end of January 1956.

Back working at the Post Office, Dale became a regular in town carrier, a position he held for the next twelve and a half years. He, then, transferred to the clerk craft at the Post Office and remained as a clerk until he was appointed to the position of Superintendent of Postal Operations. He held this position for about six years before retiring on February 28, 1989.

In 1956, Dale was baptized into the Christian faith at the Church of Christ in Storm Lake where Liz was a member. Having become a member of the church, he, subsequently, served as deacon, elder, and trustee as well as on several committees. He sang in the choir, presented special musical numbers on occasion, and sang at weddings and funerals when asked.

Additionally, Dale served with the Storm Lake volunteer fire department from June 13, 1961, until January of 1974. A member of the American Legion and the AMVETS Honor Guard for forty years, he, also, attended veterans funerals and burials during this time.

Dale loved putting together jigsaw puzzles. He assembled hundreds of them during his retirement. In addition, he enjoyed people and regularly visited his parents each day while they were residents at Buena Vista Manor. He also spent a lot of time visiting those in the hospital as well as the shut-ins among his church family. All of his family and friends will miss his weird sense of humor. He will, certainly, be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend.

Those Dale leaves to celebrate his life include his wife of sixty-one years, Liz, of Storm Lake; his daughter, Lori (John and Julian), of Blair, Nebraska; one sister, Gayle Sundberg, of Storm Lake; his sister-in-law, Charlotte Goff, of LaSalle, Illinois; and his brother-in-law, Don (Pat) Hughes, of LeMars, Iowa; as well as his nieces, nephews, extended family members, and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers-in-law: Eldon Sundberg, Dean Hughes, Dean Goff, and Dick Hughes.

Memorial Service: 1:30 p.m., February 08, 2014, at the Church of Christ in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Visitation: One hour prior to the service, February 08, 2014, at the Church of Christ.
Interment: At a later date. 00, 000 at the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery.

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