A service was held Wednesday, February 27, at the Rippey United Methodist Church for Dale Laverne Neese, 81, of Rippey, who passed away February 21, 2013 in Jefferson, Iowa.
Pastors Paul Burrow and Enna Antunez provided words of comfort. Musicians were Gaylin Sudix and Frank Cebuhar. Honorary casket bearers were dale’s grandchildren, Lucas Neese, Tyler Neese, Jon Strabley, Jason Doerhoff, Kyle Grubbs, Stacy Doerhoff, Brock Grubbs, Emily Neese, Joshua Neese, Tyler Neese, Max Neese, Bailey Ovenshire, Riley Ovenshire, Delaney Ovenshire and Keagan Ovenshire, and his great-grandchildren, Ella Neese, Jacobi Strabley, Jordan Strabley, Jericho Strabley, Oliver Strabley, Owen Strabley, Leland Doerhoff and Declan Doerhoff.
Interment will take place at a later date at the Rippey Cemetery. Hastings Funeral Home in Perry, handled arrangements.
Dale Neese was born on a farm north of Rippey on Christmas Day, 1931, to Vern and Marguerite Thornton Neese. He often told the story of his Dad sending his best cow to Omaha and it didn’t cover the bill of his birth. His big sister, Marie, was staying at Grandma’s and when the folks called to tell her she had a new baby brother; she was elated that she was going to get a “baby buggy” for Christmas. Dale remembered his childhood helping on the farm enjoying his horses and dog and his Mother’s cooking. As Marie got older and loved to play ball, she would bat the ball as hard as she could and have her little brother go fetch… until he caught on.
Dale often traveled by horse and buggy and loved to trap in the winter. He gave up the horse and buggy for a motorbike and then a Harley. He started kindergarten in Rippey and graduated in 1949. That same year, his folks moved to Grand Jct. and he drove his Model A to and from school and many other places. He once used it to drag an outhouse on to Main St. in Rippey as a Halloween prank. He worked at a variety of jobs including driving a truck for Fergeson and Deihl that took the crew around the state. He took a tree trimming job with Wright Tree Service that involved travel.
On June 6, 1954, approximately two weeks after Connie Spark’s high school graduation, Dale and Connie were married in the Grand Jct. UMC. It was a community affair with gifts of cake, flowers, the dress maker, photographs, invitations and even a week in the Radebaugh Cabin in Minnesota.
Dale bought a 36′ trailer for their first home. This was the year the movie “The Long Long Trailer” came out and many people toured it before the couple left for northern Iowa. His job took them to Illinois where Steve and Carrie were born in Danville and Cathy (Kate) and Alan in Champaign. After a few years Dale went in the saw mill business and the couple lived in a “Little House in the Big Woods”.
The opportunity to return to Iowa to farm came in 1963 and the birth of Barbara. Dale farmed, fed lambs, cattle, goats and milked cows. In 1980, the couple moved to Rippey and he commuted to the farm until the farms were sold. Horses, motorcycles, dancing and camping were a big part of his life. In later years, he enjoyed riding his “Gold Wing” with the Christian Motorcycle Association and taking many, many trips alone and sleeping in a tent under the stars along the way. One year his wanderlust took him across the United States from coast to coast and border to border to “dip his toes” in two oceans.
Dancing was another great love of his and spending time with his dance friends was his highlight. Dale and Connie loved taking their children on many camping adventures and later in life pulled an Airstream Trailer on many trips spending their winters in Arizona. Dale and Connie also enjoyed many trips inside and outside the United States. He loved basketball, kids and the NBA. He was intrigued with electronics and was always looking for the newest gadget. Dale was an avid collector whether it was old bottles or guns and could tell you every detail of each.
He was a member of Rippey United Methodist Church and Christian Motorcycle Association. Dale and Connie also enjoyed many trips inside and outside the United States, spending their winters in Arizona. His generation went from the horse and buggy to the moon.
He will be truly missed by his family and friends and leaves us all with many happy memories that brings a smile to our faces. Don’t ever say good-bye… we will see you down the road.
Surviving Dale are his wife Connie (59 years); his family Children; Steve/Deanna Neese, Carrie Strabley, Kate/Rob Doerhoff, Alan/Katherine Neese, Barbara Neese/David Ovenshire Grandchildren/Significant Other Lucas Neese (Krista), Tyler Neese (Carrie),Jon (Casey) Strabley, Jenny Strabley, Jason (Denise) Doerhoff, Kyle Grubbs, Stacy Doerhoff, Brock Grubbs, Emily Neese, Joshua Neese, Molly Neese, Max Neese, Bailey Ovenshire, Riley Ovenshire, Delaney Ovenshire, Keagan Ovenshire; and Great-Grandchildren Ella Neese, Jacobi Strabley, Jordan Strabley, Jericho Strabley, Oliver Strabley, Owen Strabley, Leland Doerhoff, and Declan Doerhoff.