Strother, Dale Hall

Dale Hall Strother, 85, of Anamosa, formerly of rural Martelle/Mount Vernon, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011. A casual gathering of friends and family for a Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Christian Fellowship on Saturday, Jan. 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. (north of intersection of Highways 1 and 151, Fairview).

Dale was born Nov. 12, 1925, in Linn County, to Glenn E. Strother and Doris E. (Armstrong) Strother. After graduating Martelle High School, he completed Wartime Radio procedures training at Gallups Island, Mass. He served in the U.S. Merchant Marines as a radio operator during World War II on several Liberty ships traveling the world.

While working as a heavy equipment operator building roads in Eastern Iowa for his uncle, JP Strother of Ottumwa, Dale met Esther M. Thomas, and they married on Sept. 17, 1949. They have five children, Jane (Bob) Beck of Cedar Rapids, Judy (Gary) Petersen of Anamosa, Jon (Bev) of Mount Vernon, Jack of Nampa, Idaho, Jim (Lana) of Ely. 

He is survived by his wife; children; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Richard (Donna) Strother, Mount Vernon; sister, Lois Darlene Davis, Mount Vernon; and sister-in-Law, Jacqueline Strother, Martelle. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Louis Strother.

Dale farmed most of his life near Martelle and retired to Anamosa. He was active with Linn County Farm Bureau, Linn County Republican Party, and served as Linn Township Trustee. He was a longtime active member of Martelle Christian Church and continued worshipping at Grace Christian Fellowship, Fairview. Dale took great pride in the fact that he and his children built their family homes together and always treasured being with his family. Family vacations were a highlight in his life.

 The family requests, in lieu of flowers or plants, memorials be made to Anamosa Area Ambulance Service for needed equipment. 

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