Allan 'Big Al' Hale

ALLAN STANLEY "BIG AL" HALE

Ely

Allan Stanley "Big Al"

Hale, 72, of Ely, Iowa, died Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, after a brief illness. A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service with military honors will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood. Burial will follow

at Wayne Zion Lutheran Cemetery in rural Monticello, Iowa. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Guests are encouraged to wear casual dress. Al will be wearing his overalls. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for

Al under "photos and videos or media" starting at

10:30 a.m. Friday.

Al was born March 26, 1948, in Maquoketa, Iowa, the son of Stanley and Lina (Siegel) Hale. He graduated from Midland High School in Wyoming, Iowa. Al served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971, during the Vietnam War. He was united in marriage to Kay Frances Lange on Sept. 2, 1972, in Anamosa, Iowa.

Al worked for Square D, and then at ADM for more than 30 years, retiring as a foreman. He then worked as a school bus aide for the College Community School District. Al was a member of the Ely American Legion. He enjoyed Allis-Chalmers tractors and classic cars. Al was an outdoorsman who loved fishing, watching and feeding birds and gardening. He was known for always tinkering around and being a prankster. Al was a fan of the Green Bay Packers. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, Kay Hale of Ely; children, Jennifer (John) Buresh of Ely, Kristen Hale and Amanda (Nic) Chase, all of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Dillon (Haley) Brunscheen, Drake Brunscheen, Bryce Buresh, Braden Buresh, Keelen Hale (Heaven Mcintosh) and Colin Hale (Hunter Hahn); great-grandchildren, Dawson, Savior and Lillyana; one great-granddaughter, Harper, due in December; sister, Karen Alday of Cedar Rapids; brother-in-law, Paul (Sue) Lange of Lisbon, Iowa; as well as four nieces and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Lina Hale; brother-in-law, Bill Alday; mother- and father-in-law, Paul (Kate) Lange Sr.; dogs, Tausha and Roxie; and several grandpups.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the University of Iowa Hospitals and VA Hospital for the excellent care they gave Al through the years, especially nurses Justin and Carly, for their love and support in Al's final days.

Please share a memory of Al at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.