Cords, Dale R.

Dale R. Cords, 73, of Delhi, died Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, in Mesa, Ariz. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Delhi United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Lorraine Hartman officiating. Burial: Evergreen Cemetery, Delhi. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home in Earlville.

Dale was born Aug. 1, 1937, in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Fred E. and Frieda M. (Ricklefs) Cords. He served with the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1961 before being honorably discharged. On Sept. 11, 1965, he was united in marriage to Janet L. (Nelson) Dempster at Delhi United Methodist Church.   Dale owned J & D Excavating in Delhi and then worked as a heavy equipment operator for Skogman Homes in Cedar Rapids.

Dale served on the Delhi Volunteer Fire Department, was a lifetime member of NRA, and enjoyed gardening, fishing and collecting Jewel Tea china and guns. Dale and his wife, Janet enjoyed wintering in Arizona.

He is survived by his wife, Janet of Delhi; three stepsons, David Dempster of Marion, Kevin (Linda) Dempster and Dean (Bev) Dempster Jr., both of Delhi; eight grandchildren, Terry Dempster, Kody Dempster, Jill Dobel, Mandy Pasker, Brendon Dempster, DJ (Dean III), Nicki Dempster and Karen Gericke Bowen; three sisters, Shirley Hernly of North Fort Myers, Fla., Karen Gray of Delhi and Sharon Dettbarn of Hopkinton; and several nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a grandson, Michael Hansel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Dollars for Scholars, N.R.A. and the family.

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