Dale Dieltz

DALE J. DIELTZ, age 95, formerly of Jasper, Minnesota, died peacefully under hospice care on Friday, September 8, 2017 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.

Dale John Dieltz was born on June 5, 1922 to John and Emma (Buysse) Dieltz on his parents’ farm southeast of Jasper, MN. He attended country school for eight grades and Jasper High School. Dale farmed with his dad until he enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He served from January, 1944 to April, 1946 aboard the battleship USS New Mexico. He was stationed in the South Pacific and served as a gunner’s mate, participating in battles at Leyte Gulf and Okinawa among others. Dale recalled the survival of kamikaze attacks and being in Tokyo Harbor for the signing of the surrender.

Dale met Rosemary Cotter at a dance after the war and they married on February 11, 1947. They farmed southeast of Jasper until moving to a farm on the eastern edge of town where they raised their ten children. Dale was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. In later years, they moved into Jasper and after retiring from farming, Dale got his realtor’s license and sold real estate. Rosemary passed away on July 12, 1980.

Dale loved to travel and see the world, which started with his years in the service. After his discharge, Dale learned to fly an airplane and participated in “fly-ins” around the countryside. He took several trips throughout the U.S. in an RV with his family and after retirement was able to visit Europe. One of his last big trips was with the first Honor Flight out of Sioux Falls, SD in May, 2009, to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.

Dale was a longtime admirer of American ingenuity. He enjoyed solving problems with the mechanics of his farm equipment, and later on, wood working and furniture refinishing. Even in his later years, he was always interested in how things worked and the latest gadgets for making life easier.

Dale spent his last years in assisted living centers in Sioux Falls before transferring to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, MN, in 2015. He died there on Friday, September 8, 2017. He is survived by his children John (Karla) of San Antonio, TX, Maureen (Jeff) Anderson of Watertown, SD, Madonna (Roger) Kufus of St. Paul, MN, Michael (Sally) of Sioux Falls, SD, Suzanne (Steve) Eide of Plymouth, MN, Sharon (Mark) Poppendeck of Plymouth, MN, Brian of Shoreview, MN, Mary (Michael) Sanderson of Frederic, WI, Margaret (Dale) Knudsen of Loretto, MN, Kathleen (John) Hulterstrum of Litchfield, MN; twenty grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He is survived by his sister, Veronica (Clem) Moore; and brother, Jerry (Jean) Dieltz. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; infant son; brother, Wayne; and sister, Lorayne Pedersen.

Memorial donations may be made to the Staff Appreciation Fund, Minnesota VA Home, Luverne, MN 56156.

Dale’s family would like to thank the staff and community of the MN VA Home for the wonderful love, care, and friendship they have shown Dale over the past two years.