Dale Wright

Dale C. Wright, 86 of Kearney died Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at Mt. Carmel Home in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. The Rev. Dean Pofahl will officiate. Private family interment will be at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege. Military rites at the funeral home will be conducted by the Marine Corp Honors Team in conjunction with the VFW Post 759 and the American Legion Post 52 of Kearney. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Memorials are suggested to Mt. Carmel Home. The family would appreciate extended family members and friends of Dale to bring a memory of him to share at the visitation or services. Online condolences may be submitted to osrfh.com. O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney is in charge of arrangements. He was born Dec. 25, 1925 in Elm Creek to Allen and Cora (Conger) Wright. He grew up and attended school in Elm Creek. He entered the United States Marine Corps, March 1, 1944 and honorably discharged, March 18, 1946. He saw active duty in the Pacific Theater, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands and Saipan. Dale was decorated with the Purple Heart Award for injuries received in action at Saipan, Marianas Islands on November 15, 1944. After his return home after active service, he married his sweetheart, Frances E. Steele on April 20, 1947 in Kearney. They made their first homes in Seattle, WA, then Chicago, IL and returned to Nebraska in 1953. To this union six children were born, and subsequently ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Dale was the hardest working man you’d ever meet, subjecting himself to all weather conditions. There wasn’t a piece of heavy machinery he couldn’t operate. His pastimes included gardening, hunting, fishing and carpentry. Survivors include sons; Stephen and wife, Colleen of San Jose, CA, Thomas and wife, Sylvia of Grand Island, Kim and wife, Sue of Kearney and David of Kearney, daughter; Barbara and husband, Mike Hodges of Lexington, 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, sisters; Iva Griem of Kearney, Elva Hasbrouck of Yuma, CO, several nieces and nephews and host of many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 56 years, son; Sanford, four brothers and five sisters.

Dale Wright

December 25, 1925 - April 3, 2012