Dale Irwin HECOX

HECOX, CRABTREE, HARMON, GRETHER, SHERMAN, AVALON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:56

September 28, 1931 ---- March 25, 2018

Dale Irwin Hecox passed peacefully into the Lord's hands on March 25, 2018 after a long illness. He was born in Clarion, Iowa to Paul and Golda (Crabtree) Hecox on September 28, 1931. He attended the University of Iowa and served his country proudly in the United States Army Counter Intelligence Corps in Japan. He was married to Sondra Harmon also of Clarion on June 7, 1956. He is now forever holding Sondra's hand. They moved to Oak Park, Illinois where Dale worked for Price Waterhouse. They then moved to Elmhurst where Dale first worked for Alwry Engineering before moving to Dean Foods Company as Controller. It was in Elmhurst that they raised their family. Dale was active in PTA events and Crescent Park Christmas Tree Land. They finally settled in Saint Charles in 1988 in a home they both loved with a beautiful garden filled with hummingbirds. They were both very devoted to their little dog Polo.

Dale served as Controller, Vice President and Treasurer of Dean Foods Company and was a key member of the senior executive team that grew Dean from a midsized regional dairy company in the late 1960s, into a leading national dairy and specialty foods manufacturer in 2000, when he retired. No one was more loyal to Dean Foods than Dale and he also brought a unique humanity to the workplace that is rare in today's world.

Dale was a teacher and a facilitator and always had time to help others in their assigned roles. His kindness, his humor, his passion and the witty poems he penned for virtually any occasion made Dean a better place. Because he truly valued everyone and the individual role they played in the success of Dean Foods, he was universally respected and adored at all levels of the organization, from the CEO to the office custodians. His career at Dean Foods was a source of great pride for Dale and he truly treasured his time, his friends and his tenure there.

Dale loved to dance and his humor and wit brought great joy to many. Dale and Sondra also loved the Republican party. They volunteered tirelessly in Kane County and Dale walked many a precinct. They made many lifelong friends both through politics and through their association with friends in Persimmon Wood. Dale and his wife were awarded President George W. Bush's Crystal Award for their volunteer efforts in Kane County. Their enthusiasm engaged everyone who knew them.

After Sondra's passing, Dale enjoyed great friendships and the loving assistance of his many friends and his devoted caregivers at River Glen of Saint Charles who nursed him during his final illness.

Dale is survived by his loving daughters, Sharon Grether of Austin, Texas and Susan Sherman of Frisco, Texas; and one granddaughter, Zenobia Avalon; and two grandsons, Maximilian and Alexander of Austin, Texas; and his very special grandson, Samuel of Frisco, Texas. There was no wake and a private service was held in his hometown of Clarion, Iowa where Dale has rejoined Sondra and their beloved parents. Dale was buried with full military honors. Your prayers for Dale would be appreciated and contributions in his name can be made to the Morton Arboretum, Elmhurst Library, the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.

Kane County Chronicle --- Geneva, Illinois
April 5, 2018