Obituary of Dale D. Harker

Dale D. Harker, 83, lifetime resident of Oxford, died Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 am Saturday, December 20, 2014, at the St. Mary's Auditorium in Oxford, with burial with Military Honors to follow at the Oxford Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Friday at St. Mary's Auditorium. Memorial donations can be made to the Oxford Fire Department in Dale's memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Dale Dwight Harker was born June 11, 1931, in Oxford, the son of Virgil and Oleta "Lettie" (Ingwersen) Harker. Growing up on a farm outside of Oxford he attended schools there graduating from Oxford High School in 1949. After graduation, he served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. On June 14, 1956, he married Helen "Dede" Vermace at the First Federated Church in Oxford. He began a career with Amana Refrigeration during summers while in high school, he continued working at Amana after he returned from his military service. He retired as a supervisor in 1991. Dale was an active member of the community of Oxford, serving on the city council, 28 years as a volunteer fireman and many years on the Oxford Cemetery Board. He took it upon himself to learn the computer and plot out the graves and data of the cemetery, preserving this part of Oxford's history. He was an accomplished woodworker and loved traveling the Western United States with his family in their camper seeing many historical sites along the way. Not only did he share his love of camping with his kids and Dede; but also with his nieces and nephews who all have fond memories of Uncle Dale around the campfire! His family includes his children, Barb Harker-Palmer (Tim), Randy Harker (Teresa), and Laurie Harker; his sister, Lois Harker and his grandchildren, Creed and Cayenne, who were the ones responsible for that special twinkle in Grandpa's eyes He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Dede; brothers, Gordon and Merle, and a sister, Jane as an infant. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Dale's family and his services.