GERLACH, Dale Earl 1928-2007

GERLACH, HOPPER, SCHRIEBER

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 4/18/2007 at 14:53:17

Funeral services for Dale Earl Gerlach, 79, of rural Toledo, Iowa, were held on Monday, April 9, 2007 at Christ United Methodist Church Worship Center, Toledo, with Pastor Mary Schnepf officiating. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama, Iowa. Dale died on Friday, April 6, 2007.

Dale Earl Gerlach was born January 18, 1928 in Carpenter, Iowa, the son of Earl and Leda (Schrieber) Gerlach.

He was united in marriage to Arlene Hopper on October 25, 1948 in Missouri. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Toledo. Dale was a life long dairy farmer. He first started with registered Holsteins as 4-H projects when he as a boy growing up near St. Ansgar. Dale had been an active dairy farmer in Tama County since 1955. He was a member of the National and Iowa Holstein Association since 1949. He was active in DHIA serving on the Iowa and National DHIAQ boards, including holding the offices of secretary, and president.

He also served on the board of Mid-American Dairyman, was named an Iowa Distinguished Dairyman in 1969, a member of Dairy Shrine and served on the board for Midwest Breeders. He served for 20 years on the Iowa Purebred Dairy Cattle Council. He was the recipient of many awards in the Dairy industry, including the Ralph Keeling Award in 1995, Honorary Member of Dairy Science Club, Holstein Hall of Fame, and State Master Breeder in 2003.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Dale is survived by his wife of 58 years, Arlene; by two daughters: Barbara (John) Gudenkauf of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Vicki (Chuck) Sawyer of LeGrand; by one son, Steve (Becky) Gerlach of Toledo; by eight grandchildren: Brad, and Janna Ender; and Jeff Gudenkauf, Brett, Brian and Nick Sawyer, and Jesse and Katie Gerlach; six great-grandchildren; by a brother, Roger Gerlach of St. Ansgar; by a sister, Helen Bortz of Nora Springs.