Dale Leon Braden, of Altoona, Iowa, formerly of Oskaloosa, passed away on Friday, October 16, 2026, at UnityPoint Methodist Hospital, surrounded by the people he loved most.
Dale was born on June 16, 1947, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to Ruth and Willard Braden. After graduating from Oskaloosa Senior High School in 1966, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving his country in Vietnam as a combat engineer from 1966-1968. Dale was immensely proud of his military service and carried that pride with him throughout his life.
After returning home from the war, Dale got back to doing what he did best: keeping busy, working with his hands, and enjoying life on his own terms. He was a blue-collar man through and through, happiest when he had something to fix, build, tinker with, or take apart just to see how it worked.
Dale spent many years driving a wrecker, served on the Sheriff’s Posse, and devoted the majority of his working years to Vermeer as a welder. Retirement didn’t exactly mean slowing down for Dale. He continued working part-time as a mechanic and helped Cindy with her in-home daycare. After all, sitting still was never really his strong suit.
Along the way, Dale fell in love with Cindy Mattix, and the two were married on November 24, 1979. Together, they shared 46 years of marriage, building a life full of love, family, laughter, and plenty of memories.
Dale and Cindy welcomed two wonderful children, Kevin and Tanya, who kept them busy with sports, cars, and, of course, jokes. There was never a shortage of things to talk about, laugh about, or give each other a hard time over. Dale had a knack for keeping life interesting, and his family wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Dale had a lifelong love of anything with an engine. NASCAR, sprint car racing, fishing, and just about any NFL game he could find on television were among his favorite ways to spend his time. His passion for cars extended well beyond the racetrack, as evidenced by his extensive collection of car models. He loved displaying his collection and showing it off to anyone willing to take a look. And if you were visiting, chances were good you were going to see it whether you planned to or not!
Dale was a man who found joy in the things he loved, took pride in his work, and showed his love in his own way. He leaves behind a lifetime of stories, laughter, lessons, and memories that will be told and retold for years to come. His family will miss his presence, his humor, and all the little things that made him uniquely Dale. Though his hands may have finally come to rest, the things he built, the people he loved, and the memories he made will live on.
Dale’s memory will be cherished by his wife of 46 years, Cindy; his daughter, Tanya (Kyle) Mitterer of Altoona; his son, Kevin Braden (fiancé Whitney Hahn-Rogers) of Oskaloosa; his three grandchildren, Kaleigh, Adelynn, and Karver; and his many beloved granddogs and grandcats, who were every bit a part of the family.
As Dale wished, his body will be cremated, and no memorial service will be held. At a later date, his family will lay him to rest at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa, where he will receive the final honor he so proudly earned through his service to his country.
Rest easy, Dale. May the races always be exciting, the football games always be on, the cars always run, and the jokes never get old. You will be deeply missed and forever loved.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made in his honor to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Lung Cancer Foundation of America.
