Dale Stanley KLAESSY

KLAESSY, HOLM, AUNE, MAIOLINI, ESTES, OTTO, RHOADES, WOLD, DENNEN, HARRIGER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/18/2012 at 11:18:52

January 1922 --- September 9, 2012

Commander U. S. Navy (Retired) Dale Stanley Klaessy died Sunday September 9th, 2012 at St Williams Living Center in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. He was born to Samuel and Signed (Holm) Klaessy in January 1922 in Renwick, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm with his three siblings. At age thirteen, the family moved to Spencer, Iowa where he graduated from high school. He then attended and graduated from Northwestern College. He became a member of the school's chorale club and was the second bass in their gospel quartet. It was while giving concerts in Ottertail County, Minnesota that he met his future wife, Ione Jewel Aune, the sister of Vernon, also a member of the quartet. Dale and Ione were married in Pasco, Washington on June 15th 1945. They were blessed with three children, Sam, Kit, and John.

Following graduation from Northwestern, Dale joined a classmate to work on the annual log drive on the Wind River for the Wyoming Tie and Timber Company of Riverton, Wyoming. In 1942, he enlisted as an aviation cadet in the U. S. Navy. Following training, he was commissioned an ensign and awarded the Navy golden wings. After torpedo bomber training, he was deployed to the war in the Pacific. During his twenty-five year career as a naval aviator, he participated in the atomic tests at Eniwetok in the Pacific, contributed to developments in airborne electronics, was deployed in the Mediterranean during early Middle East tensions. He had shipboard responsibilities as navigator of the carrier USS Siboney and as Air Boss of the carrier USS Antietam. He finished his naval career as the head of radar and air traffic control at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island.

He earned a Bachelors of Arts from University of Mississippi, a Masters of Education from Bridgewater State College, Massachusetts, graduate studies in guidance and counseling and management science at Moorhead State College. He also attended USC, Brigham Young, and Columbia University. After retiring from the Navy he was employed at the Fergus Falls State Hospital from October 1968 to April 1984 in the field of mental health. After his retirement Dale continued to serve others from coaching Special Olympics golf to delivering Meals on Wheels.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ione, his son Samuel, his sister Velva Klaessy, his brother Don Klaessy, sisters-in-law Mary Lou Klaessy, Kathryn Maiolini, Ruth Estes, Helen Aune, Gudren Otto, Charlotte Rhoades, and; his brothers-in-law Lawrence Aune, Charles Estes, Vernon Aune, Herbert Otto, Julian Wold, Irv Dennen, and James Aune. Dale is survived by his children Kit (Gary) Harriger, John (Kelli) Klaessy, and Shelley Klaessy: grandsons Max (Sara) and Sam Harriger; brother Earl (Verla) Klaessy; brothers-in-law Frank Maiolini, John (Beverly) Aune, Ben Rhoads, and Philip (Joyce) Aune, and; sisters-in-law Mary Wold, and Beverly Dennen: and by many loving nieces and nephews.

Dale lived a full and satisfying life. His joy was his family, his Bible, the beauty of this earth, combat flying, and almost seventy years of golfing. Memorials will be donated to Camp Joy. A Memorial Service will be 10 am, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls with Rev. Rod Tornquist officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Rindal Cemetery, rural Underwood. Arrangements by the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.

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