Dale Kenneth Scherger

DALE KENNETH SCHERGER

Dale Kenneth Scherger, age 62, of rural Dodge Center, Minnesota, entered his eternal glory on October 26, 2018, after a courageous two-year struggle with ALS. He was surrounded by family and friends as he passed from this world to his Savior’s waiting arms.

Dale was born on June 12, 1956, the youngest of four children born to Arthur and Rowena (Goodrich) Scherger of Dodge Center. He was baptized into the Christian faith on June 25, 1956 and confirmed in that faith on May 17, 1970, both at Grace Lutheran Church in Dodge Center. Dale grew up farming with his parents and siblings. He graduated from Dodge Center High School in 1974 and from Austin Community College in 1976, with a sales and marketing degree. On May 31, 1980, Dale was united in Christian marriage to the love of his life, Kathryn (Koball), at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, Minn. The Lord blessed them with a daughter, Kelly, and a son, Matthew.

Dale worked for Firestone, Schilling Paper, and McNeilus Steel during his career; and retired from McNeilus Steel in 2017 after working as a truck driver there for 23 years. He loved to travel. Dale and Kathryn enjoyed cruising in the Caribbean and South Pacific, and visited Hawaii three times. He especially loved vacationing with family and friends in Branson, Missouri and visiting his son in San Diego, California. Despite his diagnosis, he and his wife made the most of the time they had together in his last two years, taking four vacations together with family and friends.

Dale enjoyed both playing and watching sports, especially his favorite Minnesota teams, the Vikings and Twins. He played basketball in high school and college, and coached his children in many sports when they were young kids. Dale always loved listening to music, especially gospel and country, spending time reading the Bible, or the latest novel from his favorite author, Michael Connelly. He also loved to play cards, and was quite fond of bidding "no trump" when he played five hundred. His children will always remember his wisdom, his smile, his competitiveness, and his love for life.

Dale lived his faith, serving Grace Lutheran Church in many roles throughout his life, including usher, elder, congregation chairman, and, most passionately, as a mission team member on Grace's first mission trip to Kenya in 2015. He was most proud of his family, as anyone who met him will attest. He was his children's biggest fan, always cheering them on from the stands at each of their games, applauding their concert performances, and bragging them (and his grandchildren) up to anyone who would listen.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, and father-in-law Carl Koball; he is survived by his wife Kathryn, children Kelly (Adam) Holtz and Matthew Scherger, grandchildren Lydia and Luke Holtz, brothers Arlen (Janice) and Bernard (JoAnn) Scherger, sister Lois (Robert) Walbruch, mother-in-law Connie Koball, his sisters- and brothers-in-law Steve (Yolanda) and Randy (Robyn) Koball, and Brenda (Gary) Henslin, nieces and nephews, cousins, and many more extended family members.

A Christian funeral service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 Central Avenue North, Dodge Center, on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, at 10:30 a.m., with visitation for one hour before the service with Reverend Timothy Chase and Reverend Robert Lentz, officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Dodge Center. The family also will receive friends on October 30, 2018, the evening before the funeral from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Czaplewski Family Funeral Home, 25 South Street, Dodge Center, Minnesota.

Dale requested that memorials in his honor be directed to 4KenyasKids.org; P.O. Box 643; New Haven, IN 46774. The family also suggests that memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church, ALS Foundation, or Mayo Clinic Hospice.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers at Mayo Clinic Hospice, Elena Niehoff, RN, and all of Dale’s family and friends who offered help and support to him and Kathryn during the past two years.
Blessed be his memory.