Dale Alan Leander, 85, of Atlantic, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at University Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb.
Dale was born on Dec. 9, 1936, in Brayton, to Walter S. Leander and Marie N. (Gjodesen) Leander. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Dale Graduated in 1955 from Atlantic High School and then spent six months in the active Army Reserves and six years in summer training. Dale married Judy Elaine Anderson on Sept. 14, 1958, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa. The couple had two daughters, Lisa and Lana.
Dale was employed with the Iowa Highway Commission for two years working on the survey crew during the construction of Interstate 80, then he started farming with his father. In addition to farming, Dale started selling Pioneer seed in 1967. Dale loved spending time with customers and getting to know them and their families over the years. He served on an advisory board for Pioneer during that time. He was well identified with Pioneer and his career lasted for almost 50 years.
He was a lifetime member of the Elks, serving as an officer at one time. He was a member of the Cattleman’s Association and took many trips during his years of service. He has also been a member of Ducks Unlimited.
Dale’s desire to travel and see as much as he could began at an early age. A special wish was to be able to travel to all 50 States before the age of 50, which he happily accomplished. Dale particularly loved traveling with his family and making travel plans, and the yearly winter trip with Judy to Hawaii was his well-known favorite. They also enjoyed trips to Japan and the Scandinavian countries. He and Judy acquired many lifelong friends on their adventures. Above all was his love and pride for his family and having them enjoy some of these trips together with them. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, and passed that on to his grandson, Jesse, taking him on many trips to Canada fishing and hunting. He enjoyed having Jesse on the farm helping with Pioneer and other farming projects. He delighted in his granddaughters, Tara and Tori attending their various school activities and taking them on trips to New York City and Chicago. Another great joy in his life was the birth of his great-granddaughter, Luna Jade Worth. He thoroughly enjoyed his coffee groups and the friendships that were made, along with the various conversations – happy or heated.
Dale is survived by his loving wife, Judy Leander and daughters, Lisa Dolch and husband Glen Dolch of Atlantic, Lana Leander and husband Ryan Gruhn of Ames; grandson, Jesse Worth and wife Leah of Ames; granddaughters, Tara Dolch and significant other Caleb Rihner of Portsmouth, and Tori Dolch and significant other Joe Brummer of Atlantic; great-granddaughter, Luna Worth. Dale is also survived by his sister, Lois Paul and husband Maynard of Burnsville, Minn.; sister-in-law, Doris Leander of Wilber, Neb.; brother-in-law, Doug Anderson and wife Colleen of Ankeny; nieces, nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Wally Leander, and father and mother-in-law, Andy and Mary Anderson.
Visitation with the family present will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 5 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic followed by a memorial service starting at 11 a.m. at the church with Pastor Lauri Boysen officiating. A lunch will follow the service in the church.
Burial will take place at a later date at the Atlantic Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Leander Family in honor of Dale and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, Iowa. They will be designated to many of Dale’s favorite organizations and charities.
Services are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic.
Condolences may be left on www.schmidtfh.com
Published by Atlantic News Telegraph on Mar. 1, 2022.
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