Dale S Schwartz

Dale Schwartz went to be with the Lord on April 28, 2021 at his daughter’s home in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was held in the loving arms of his family. Dale was born May 21, 1936 at Lodgepole, Nebraska, the oldest child of Fred and Ida (Richter) Schwartz. His siblings were: Glen Schwartz of Oshkosh, Gene Schwartz of Nashua, MT, and Donna Poturalski of Colorado Springs, CO. Dale started farming at age 5. He had to have wood blocks tied to his feet to reach the pedals. Through eight decades, he saw family farming move from horse-drawn equipment and steam engine driven threshing to satellite guided combines and corporations. A tireless worker and innovative thinker, he was able to adapt farming practices to make a sand patch yield a successful life. The oldest of four, Dale naturally had heavy responsibilities. After 9th grade, he became indispensable on the farm, but he was tickled to complete his GED in the months prior to his youngest daughter’s own high school graduation. Dale was drafted for the Vietnam War into the US Army infantry in 1959. He was stationed in Ft. Ord, CA where he made lifelong friends, ran the motor pool, received marksmanship commendations and was honorably discharged. His military experiences inspired a lifelong interest in armaments. He collected guns, reloaded bullets and delighted to find new ways to be rid of prairie dogs. On September 9, 1962, he married his best friend and love of his life, Bina Cool. Bina and Dale had three children: Eric, Anita, and Carla. Dale spent his life tending to animals, crops, machinery and family. His mechanical ability contributed to his success. He regularly regaled family at the dinner table with accurate sound effects to describe valve, exhaust or other engine issues. He spent one summer under a baler with a city fella sent from the manufacturer. His input was crucial to the development of an improved design. He also built or rebuilt motorcycles, cars, trucks, tractors, implements and even created a purple “gopher getter.” Undaunted by a mechanical problem, he often exercised his expertise for stranded motorists. It wasn’t uncommon to be delayed for hours on trips out of town while he helped someone along the roadside. A tireless worker and innovative thinker, he was among the first farmers to plant dryland beans in the valley, and he pioneered growing sunflowers in Garden County. He became a corn seed dealer and planted experimental seed plots for ACCO. If he wasn’t in the field, or under an engine or car hood, he enjoyed nature. When he could get away during short summers, he water-skied, boated or fished on the lake or at a secret fishing spot on the Platte River. In the fall and winter he trapped and enjoyed goose hunting. Nothing was more beautiful to him than a winter landscape dotted with Canadian geese. He was the apple of his mother’s eye and lived a life of integrity, but he had an independent streak. He wasn’t disinclined to trespass for asparagus or poach the occasional out of season deer if need be. He mostly delighted in minor disobedience. Against his wife’s wishes, he once signed up his daughter for bull riding at the rodeo. He bought his girls Tonca trucks and capguns and taught them to shoot and ride motorcycles. In July he acquired illegal fireworks and showed his daughters how to explode empty cans and containers. Friendly and service-minded, he was active in church. He harvested the evergreen boughs for the holiday Smorgasbord for the Lutheran church fundraiser and manned the coatroom every year. The tangle of 100s of hangers stored in the hay mow would be faithfully organized and volunteers would be eager to answer his call. In later years, he would work the Table of Grace, sorting and hauling groceries to cars for people who were often younger than him. Dale also enjoyed helping his mother and her friends to church each week. After the death of Bina, Dad’s soul mate and the love of his life, Dad’s spark faltered, but he kept busy -- he also kept his children, nephews, and neighbors busy -- selling, sorting and moving to town. He always did like a project. Even after he went to live with his daughters, he continued to garden, plant and putter, enjoying birds and flowers and collecting exotic seeds to take back to his beloved prairie. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, son, parents and brothers. He will be dearly missed by his daughters: Anita (Mike) Schwartz of Lincoln, NE and Carla (Daniel) Vanderford of Seale, AL; by his grandsons: Tristan (Taylor) Krauter of Lincoln, NE; Aaron Vanderford of Seale, AL; Isaac Schwartz of Seale, AL; Spencer Leach of Lincoln NE; and by Troy Schwartz of Dickens, NE, sister Donna (Rich) Potolralski as well as numerous other nieces and nephews. Visitation with the family will be Tuesday, May 4th, 4-6 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Oshkosh. Funeral services for Dale will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 5th, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Oshkosh with Brenda Tophoj, P.M.A. officiating. Interment will follow at the Oshkosh Cemetery with Military Honors by the Keith County Honor Guard. A memorial to provide camperships to Sullivan Hills Camp located on Dale’s grandparents’ homestead near Lodgepole, Nebraska has been established with Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries. , www.nlom.org/give or NLOM, 27416 Ranch Rd, Ashland, NE 68003 Services will be Recorded and Posted after the service at www.drauckerfh.com Draucker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

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