KOHLES, Dale P.

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ - Published on March 23, 2013 - Funeral services for Dale P. Kohles, age 90 of Bloomfield, Nebraska, will be Friday, March 8, 2013, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Bloomfield. Reverend Michael Schmitz will be Celebrant, with burial in the Bloomfield City Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, with a 7:30 p.m. Wake Service. Brockhaus Funeral Home of Bloomfield is in charge of arrangements. Dale passed away peacefully with family at his side in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on Saturday, March 2, 2013. Dale experienced a recent illness after celebrating his 90th birthday. Dale was born September 20, 1922 to Peter and Elizabeth Kohles in Crofton, Nebraska. Dale and his brothers, Allan and Melvin were pranksters and kept their parents entertained. In 1942, Dale enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Corp, and received his pilot wings training as a flight officer for the B-24 Bomber, and subsequently the B-29 bomber. Dale and his crew, the 73rd Bomber Wing, were stationed in Guam, and completed eleven bombing missions over Japan. Dale earned the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 bronze stars, Air Medal, American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Dale met his wife, Loretta Bradley, in Coffeeville, Kansas, at an USO during his training. Dale returned to the Crofton Nebraska area to farm. The original family homestead is now covered by the Lewis and Clark Lake, on the Nebraska-South Dakota border. Dale married Loretta Bradley June 15, 1946, in Okmulgee Oklahoma, and raised seven children. Dale and Loretta moved their family to a farm Northwest of Bloomfield in 1955 and farmed for 45 years where Dale used sustainable agriculture methods to farm. Dale installed terraces and waterways, rotated crops, minimized the use of fertilizers, introduced rosette weevils, and rotated his Hereford cattle on 112 acres. Dale provided loving care to his cattle, assisting with difficult births, bringing new born calves into warm shelter during freezing weather, and bottle feeding many calves. The family farm provided for many 4-H projects and learning opportunities for their children. Dale was active in Saint Andrew’s Catholic Church as an Eucharistic Minister, American Legion, and the National Farmer’s Organization. He enjoyed many family ski trips and fishing trips to Canada with his sons. Dale moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ in 2007 to live with his daughter, Sherry Malm. He enjoyed the outdoors and wildlife of the desert during his last years. Dale was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, neighbor, and friend. Dale will be missed by all who were blessed to have had him in their lives. Dale is survived by his brother, Melvin Kohles (Barbara); daughter, Sherry Malm, Lake Havasu City, AZ; son, Jerry (Gayle) Kohles, Norfolk, NE; son, Roger (Evelyn) Kohles, Baytown, TX; son, Chuck (Krista) Kohles, Davey, NE; daughter, Mary (Steve) Mairose, Kimball, SD; daughter, Lisa (Michael) Brugh, Flagstaff AZ; daughter in law, Carol Kohles;, sister in law, Olivia Kohles; sister in law, Redempta Bradley; sister in law, Lorraine Fritch (Charles); thirty-five grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren. Dale is preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Loretta Kohles; wife; Florence Mueller, and wife Verna Schoenauer; brother, Allan Kohles; son, Larry Kohles; granddaughter Shannon Malm; and grandson, Eric Kohles. (Lake Havasu Mortuary & Crematory assisted with arrangements)