Dale Colsch

Dale Nicholas Colsch, age 81, of Plainfield passed away peacefully November 12, 2019 at the Waverly Health Center in Waverly following a courageous, private and prolonged battle with cancer. There will be no formal services. Per his wishes, Dale’s body was cremated. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society in Dale’s memory.

Dale was born December 20, 1937 to Nicholas and Charlotte Ann (Theobald) Colsch. He grew up on a farm southwest of New Albin along with seven brothers and a sister. He attended Iowa Township #3, otherwise known as the Sand Cove School, until it closed. Dale attended New Albin Elementary until eighth grade when he chose to quit school in order to farm with his older brothers, Robert and Harold. When Harold was drafted in January 1952, it became Dale’s responsibility to help manage the farm along with his brother, Robert.

In 1955, Dale moved to Dyersville where he worked as a farmhand. He spent a brief amount of time in the U.S. Army before returning to Iowa. In 1959, he accepted employment at John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo where he eventually retired 30 years later. Dale was a member of the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

August 17, 1964, Dale married Joan Kenna of Manchester. They had two daughters, Angie and Amy, but later divorced. Joan died September 1, 2005. October 27, 1977, Dale married Wanda Nolte of Waverly at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waverly. They built a house on their farm near Horton and lived there for 42 years. Together, they raised a son, Troy, and two daughters, Rachel and Josephine.

During his early retirement years, Dale enjoyed hobby farming, attending farm auctions where he often purchased old equipment for salvage, and tinkering with all things mechanical. Dale possessed the uncanny ability to build “custom” vehicles such as riding lawn mowers and pick-up trucks from parts that he would salvage from a variety of other assorted vehicles. In addition to these engineering feats, he took pride in his efforts to recycle scrap iron and other metals, doing business as Colsch Salvage.

Dale is survived by his wife, Wanda; six children: Phyllis Burke of Oelwein, Angie Kenna of Iowa City, Amy (Kevin) Mesch of Manchester, Troy (Kelly) Colsch of Tucson, AZ, Rachel Colsch of Arizona, and Josephine Colsch and her fiancé Tony Schmitt of Rockford; 12 grandchildren: Josh Burke of Burr Oak, Sarah Burke of Waterloo, Jesse Burke of Oelwein, Jordan Burke of Ames, Samantha (Kent) Bredlau of Iowa City, Judd Burke of Chattanooga, TN, Taydon Colsch of Arizona, Tavyon Colsch of Arizona, Kathryn Garcia of Montana, Ian Mesch of Manchester, Trent Mesch of Manchester and Leana Mesch of Manchester; and nine great-grandchildren: Silas Garcia, Adam Burke, Alex Burke, Elizabeth Burke, Nela Phillips, Ethan Burke, Landon Burke, Nathan Burke and Bennett Bredlau.

Dale is survived by three siblings: Arlene (Del) Swatosh of Oak Harbor, WA, Harold (Shirley) Colsch of Waukon and Lloyd (Sheila) Colsch of Lansing. Those preceding him in death include his parents, Nicholas and Charlotte (Theobald) Colsch; five brothers: Edward, LeRoy (Jack), Clem, Robert and Carl Colsch; and three grandchildren: Jackson Burke, Jamison Burke and Joseph Mesch.

Condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com.