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.
