Dale “Tex” F. Petersen

Dale “Tex” F. Petersen

Iowa City

Dale “Tex” F. Petersen, 88, and longtime resident of Iowa City, died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 20, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. Memorial donations can be made in Dale’s memory to St. Mary’s Catholic Church. To share a thought, memory or condolence with his family, please go to www.gayandciha.com.

Dale Frederick Petersen was born Sept. 10, 1935, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Viggo and Eva (Miller) Petersen. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School and later graduated from the Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) in Cedar Falls. Dale met “the love of his life” Iola M. Kainz in the first class on the very first day of college and they were married June 14, 1958, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elkader, Iowa. Prior to marriage and into his mid-twenties, Dale was a very serious rodeo cowboy, competing in rodeos across the country and winning prize money and trophies! Dale, Iola and their young family moved around between Texas and a few towns in Iowa, and eventually decided to plant their roots in Iowa City. In Iowa City, while his wife was a math teacher in the Iowa City School system for many years, Dale was employed at the University of Iowa in the Department of Health Occupations Education for many years until his retirement. Dale was involved in setting up many community college programs, in particular two-year nursing programs at community colleges such as Kirkwood and the very first M.A. degree in Iowa. They also owned a family farm in Elkader, Iowa, that serves as wonderful family retreat with many fond memories.

Dale was a family man that loved his family more than anything, their farm and their horses. Dale was active in the Johnson County Republican party, and always a strong supporter of Iowa Hawkeye athletics, enjoyed his dancing days with Iola in many ballrooms across eastern Iowa and was very skilled in leather craftsmanship. He excelled at most anything he set his mind to and was a very talented jack of all trades! But nothing compared to his deepest love and pride for his family. Family was the cornerstone of Dale’s existence and he never hesitated to share the accomplishments and successes of his family with everyone.

His family includes their four children, Cynthia, Deanna, Thomas and Andrew; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Iola; two sisters and one brother.