Due to Iowa’s mandate, 
facemasks are required. Only 15 visitors will be allowed in the facility
 at the same time. You may join the family remotely by viewing the 
service on 
https://my.gather.app/remember/dale-cottrell  
 Dale Edwin Cottrell was born to Carl and Margaret Cottrell on February 
20, 1928 near Woodburn, Iowa. He departed this life peacefully 
surrounded by his family on November 19, 2020. He attended rural schools
 near Osceola, and then moved south of Russell, Iowa. He attended 
Liberty #4, a rural school, and graduated from Russell High School with a
 Normal Training certificate. He taught rural schools: Mauk School in 
Lucas County and Rabbit Hill School in Wayne County. He was only 17 
years old when he began teaching, and was only a few years older than 
some of his students. He then decided that teaching was not what he 
wanted to do with his life, and he desired to farm. On February 14, 
1947, he married Fern Sellers and purchased his first farm a few miles 
north of Confidence, Iowa. After a few years on that farm, he purchased a
 larger farm a few miles south and continued to farm. He raised corn, 
beans, hay, cattle, sheep, hogs, and chickens. After a few years, he 
decided to focus on stock cattle and hay. 
 He especially enjoyed 
working with his cattle and was very proud of his basically Black Angus 
cattle herd. During the haying seasons over the years, he employed 
approximately 26 young boys and girls in the hay fields including his 
girls and son-in-laws.  
 He enjoyed building and repurposing 
buildings and machinery. Every building on his farm was either built or 
remodeled to suit his farming operation including building a new house 
for his family. He also helped build new houses for all three of his 
daughters and their families.  
 Dale loved to read and enjoyed 
non-fiction books and could remember and share the stories with his 
families and friends. He enjoyed traveling and every summer managed to 
take his family on vacation. Some vacations were only for a few days, 
but others were longer. He traveled to almost all the states including 
Alaska and Hawaii. This instilled a love of travel for his children. In 
later years, he really enjoyed taking rides in the country with his 
daughters, particularly checking out dirt and abandoned roads. As his 
body began to fail, his mind remained strong.  
 Possessing an 
incredible memory, he was not only a great source of information, but 
entertainment too. Recently, one grandson made an accurate comment, “If 
we have grandpa, we don’t need Google.” Always a willing helper for 
neighbors, friends, and relatives, he and Fern were awarded “The Good 
Neighbor Award in Wayne County.” He was a man who simply lent a helping 
hand to others.  
 He was preceded in death by his spouse, Fern; his parents; an infant brother; and an older sister, Ethel Prough Printy. 
 Dale served on several committees and boards, including Farm Bureau, 
ASCS, Pork Producers, and the Cattlemen Association, and was a township 
clerk. In 1997, after moving to their new home in Chariton, he delivered
 Meals on Wheels. Participating in the activities of the Chariton River 
Valley Antique Tractor Club was a great joy for him.  
 Survivors
 include three daughters: Linda (Larry) Chase of Chariton, Joyce (Mike) 
Thomas of Centerville, and Janet (Dewey) Abrahamson of Rathbun; 
grandchildren: Michelle (Dave) Hyman of Keota, Brenda (Brian) Kotewa of 
Bellingham, Washington, Anne (Tim) Ryan of Seymour, Lisa Taylor of 
Cincinnati, Ohio, Brian (Dottie) Abrahamson of Ankeny, Megan (Felix) 
Munoz of Cedar Rapids, and Sara (James) Davidson of Granger; 
great-grandchildren: Cortney, Matthew, and Branden Hyman, Julia and Gabe
 Kotewa, Yesmina Lloyd, Leah Rinchiuso, Braxtyn and Degan Ryan, Giana 
Dantzler, Levi, Will, and Olivia Munoz, and Genevieve Davidson; sister, 
Doris (Ron) Christensen; sisters-in-law: Dorothy Sellers, Marilyn (Jack)
 James, and Wretha Paige.  
 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be
 made to the local libraries, Every Step Hospice of Knoxville, or the 
Chariton River Valley Antique Tractor Club.