Floyd Dale SCHLAPIA

SCHLAPIA, MILLER, MCMATH, SCOTT, DREDGE, LEMING, MURPHY, STRANGE, DOTSON, BROWN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/6/2009 at 15:57:24

FLOYD DALE SCHLAPIA

Floyd Dale SCHLAPIA was born April 12th, 1915, to Floyd Dudley and Ocie Pearl (MILLER) SCHLAPIA at the old BUTLER house at Benton, Iowa. He passed away on December 3rd, 2007, at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, Iowa.

Dale was a proud 1932 graduate of Benton high school and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning School in Chicago, Illinois. In 1940 Dale joined the United States Army Air Force and was stationed in France and England. He served as a medic and witnessed the bombing of London. Dale was discharged in 1945 and came home to marry his sweetheart, Maralyn McMATH on September 4th, 1945, in Troy, Kansas, and was blessed to celebrate 62 years of marriage. They were blessed with three children, Jeannette Ione, Roger Dale, and Meredith Ann. Dale worked at Freeland's, Willey's Plumbing and Heating, Keith Cole's Firestone Store and then was self-employed as an appliance repairman and electrician. Dale was a caring man often never charging for repairs.

Dale enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren always attending their school and sport activities. He was very proud of them. Dale went camping at Lake Rathbun and met several new friends. This group camped and fished together for several years. He also liked to go to Mount Pleasant to the Old Thresher’s Reunion and had to be there to hear the early morning whistle blow. Christmas was a special time for Dale. He would stick his head into the bedroom at 2:00 a.m. to wake his children and yell "Santa's been here." When his grandchildren came along, Dale had to wait till 5:00 a.m. to open presents. He would be dressed and waiting for Meredith to call so he could come in for gift opening. It would take him 5 minutes to get there!! He had a collection of musical toys that were favorite gifts for him. The great-grandchildren always got to play with these.

Maralyn and Dale loved to take car rides enjoying the country side, walking in the pasture, sitting on the porch, and enjoying watching the cattle and baby calves. He was a very caring, easy going, and loving man enjoying life and family. Dale was a 60-year member of the V.F.W. Post #1797 in Creston; the American Legion Post #172 and the United Baptist Presbyterian Church, both in Mount Ayr.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Russell SCHLAPIA.

He is survived by his devoted wife Maralyn, daughter Jeannette and husband David SCOTT of Osceola, IA, son Roger and wife Betty SCHLAPIA of Bellevue, NE, and daughter Meredith and husband Duane DREDGE of Mount Ayr, IA., grandchildren, Derek SCOTT, Deron and Liline SCOTT, Eric and Jennifer SCHLAPIA, Amy LEMING, Leslie DREDGE-MURPHY and Jared MURPHY, Clinton and Allison DREDGE, Adam and Katrina DREDGE, and Morgan DREDGE and great grandchildren Brooklynn LEMING, Tanner and Sophie SCHLAPIA, Rhett and Zachary MURPHY, Colton Dale DREDGE, and Adalynn DREDGE. Sisters include Laveta STRANGE of Diagonal, IA, Thelma SCHLAPIA of Longmont, CO., Kay (Lee) DOTSON of Phoenix, AZ. Fay (Dale) MATHER of Silver City, NM, and sister-in-laws Mary Lou SCHLAPIA of Boulder, CO., Lavon BROWN of Clearfield, IA., and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Shirley McMATH of Clearfield, many nephews, nieces, and a host of friends. His wisdom and love will carry on through all that he touched.

Services were held Thursday, December 6, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. from Wilson-Watson & Armstrong Funeral Home, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

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