Dale Joseph Pfankuch, 88, passed away February 3, 2016 at the Masonic Home of Montana. He was born on St Patrick’s Day in 1927 in St Paul, Minnesota to Clarence and Clara Pfankuch. As a young boy the Boy Scouts helped him discover he loved the outdoors. At age 12 he read a USDA pamphlet that inspired him to go into Forestry. One day he took a bus across town to the University of Minnesota and made inquiries as to what classes he needed to take in High School in order to study Forestry in collage. On June 10, 1950 he graduated from the University of Minnesota Forestry School with his B.S. degree. During his time at the university he met the love of his life, Thelma Ramey. They were married on March 17, 1950 and were blessed with 64 years together. Near the end of the Second World War and during the Korean Conflict he enlisted in the Navy serving as a hospital corpsman, with most of his enlistments at Great Lakes Navel Air Station. He then returned to the U.of M. and finished grad school with a Masters Degree in Forestry in 1955. Those years also gave him fatherhood. Between 1954 and 1960 he and Thelma had a son, Lynn, and 3 daughters, Susan, Patricia, and Barbara. From his own writings in 1999 he says” we have 4 adult offspring’s who are hardworking, law abiding, God fearing, loving, caring and responsible citizens, and I thank God for each of them.” All things dad lived out, showing us how.
Dale’s entire career was spent in public service. Three years as a farm forester with the Minnesota Department of Conservation – Forest Service (’52-’55) and 27 years with the US Dept. of Agriculture – Forest Service as researcher, forest staff office and regional hydrologist (’56-’83). He had an accomplished and distinguished career where he is remembered by many for the publications he wrote, procedures he developed and the equipment he invented which are still the standard in hydrology today. Dale was an accomplished artist. He painted, sculpted, carved, wove, did woodworking, and tied flies. He made nearly all the furniture in our family homes. In retirement he enjoyed being creative and continued to give his time and talents to community projects.
Dale will be remembered for so very many things, but mostly he will be remembered for his character and commitment to his work and to people. He had an excellent memory, was detail oriented, intelligent, interested in everything, willing to share all he knew and invest in other people’s future. He was a thinker and a storyteller. He was sensitive, feeling deeply, both sorrow and joys. He was a loyal husband, father, and man. He tried to make each day of his life count towards something good. And he loved his family and friends with the love he received and learned for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These qualities were exhibited in him daily until he peacefully went home to the Lord on February 3, 2016. His sense of humor, wisdom, and caring love will be greatly missed. We will hold tightly to our cherished memories and eagerly anticipate the day when we will be reunited in heaven, forever!
Dale is preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Clara, a brother Robert, infant sister Corrine, and his wife Thelma. He is survived by his children; son Lynn (Ginger) Pfankuch of Helena, MT., Susan (Marlin) Sander of Helena, MT., Patricia Campbell of Lyons, IL., Barbara (Robert) Colwell of Aurora, CO., granddaughters, Jennifer (Leonard) Hackett of Lakewood, CO., Andrea (Travis) Benson of Benton City WA., grandson Joseph (Lindsey) Pfankuch of Hempstead, N.C., and great granddaughters, Naomi Fry, Tabitha Benson, RuthAnn Hackett, and Corrine Hackett.
Chuck & Terri Paske says
Dear Susan and family, we are keeping you all in our prayers as you walk thru this difficult time. Your Dad was a very special man and I know he will be greatly missed. May you find joy in the many wonderful memories he gave you and may you find peace knowing he now is at “home”.
Blessings!
Mark and Beth Barry says
We truly enjoyed being able to spend time with Dale and Thelma the past few years and we pray for God’s grace for Dale and family. Dale was a wise and wonderful man and we will miss our visits with him
Veronica Pierce says
To the family and friends, please accept my condolences for the loss of Mr. Pfankuch. May all your memories give you strength as the bible gives us hope. Revelations 21:3,4.