Dale F. Gottschalk, 90, of Ottumwa, died at 8:15 a.m. April 16, 2022 at Ridgewood Specialty Care in Ottumwa.
He was born March 10, 1932 in Pocahontas County, IA to Frank and Gladys Otteson Gottschalk. Dale married the love of his life, Joann Coppinger on January 10, 1953.
Dale was a graduate of Manson High School. He served in the US Army serving in the 2nd Infantry Combat Engineer Battalion during the Korean Conflict, earning a Purple Heart.
He had been a resident of Ottumwa since 1966. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, a life member of Knights of Columbus Council #888, a Grand Knight and life member of General McMullen Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, a member of O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion, a life member of Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and a life member of Disabled American Veterans.
Dale served 3 years on the Soil Conservation Service, farmed near Ft. Dodge for 8 years and worked for Land O’ Lakes Felco for 2 years. He joined Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1966 and owned KFC in Ottumwa from 1966 until his retirement in 1999. Dale served as Mayor of Ottumwa from 1980 to 1981, served on Ottumwa City Council from 1985 to 1986, was a member of the Ottumwa Chamber of Commerce Board and served as president in 1978, was past president of St. Patrick Parish Council and served as Octoberfest co-chairman and chairman for 20 years. He was a member of Poppin’ Johnnies, riding in the WHO Tractor Drive from 1997-2019 and also riding in the SE Iowa Tractor Ride. Dale was a board member and chairman of Ottumwa Water Works and a charter member of Chief Wapello Trails Committee. He worked for VA Transportation Services from 2006 to 2017, with over 3000 hours of volunteer service. Dale was 17 gallon blood donor.
Surviving is his wife, Joann; their 11 children, DeAnn (Steven) Howard and their children, Jacob, Zachary and Logan, Randy (Janet) Gottschalk and their children, Brandi and Devon, Becky Johnston and her children, Chad and Meghann, Shari (Bill) Somers and their children, Tessa, Ellie, Trevor, Sophie, Sadie, Hunter and Emma, Dina Nightindale and her children Keenan and Connor, Lori Gottschalk and her children, Bret, Gabrielle, Sawyer, Lydeah, Madeleine, Chaepter, Allegra, Quaye and Ambler, Lisa (Wes) Turner and their children, Xinghua and Jiale, Matthew Gottschalk and his children, Kylie, Claire, Chloe, Brittany, Brandon, Alida, Thade, Meara, Maddie, Adler and Brolin, Kara (Kevin) McCoy and their children, Sydney, Carmen, Henna and Myah, David Gottschalk and Nathan (Katy) Gottschalk and their sons, Henry, Harrison, Harper and Hamilton; 20 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, Ronald and Robert Gottschalk and two granddaughters Erin and Malli.
Visitation will be open at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 24th, at Reece Funeral Home. A Christian Wake will be 2 p.m. Sunday, April 24th, at Reece Funeral Home with the family present following to greet friends until 5 p.m. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed live on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday April 25th at St. Patrick Catholic Church with Father Patrick Hilgendorf presiding. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed live on the Reece Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery with military honors by Walter B. Schafer Post #775 Veterans of Foreign Wars and O.B. Nelson Post #3 American Legion.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church or St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD.
