HALE, Walter Joseph

Walter Hale, 91, died Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 at Careage of Wayne. Services, with visitation prior, will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20 at Thompson Chapel Funeral Home in Wakefield. Pastor Lorri Kentner and Pastor Carol Jean Stapleton will officiate. Burial with military rites will be at Eastview Cemetery of rural Allen. Walter Joseph Hale, the son of Percy and Clara Belle (Isom) Hale was born in Sioux City, Iowa on May 4, 1921. He attended the rural school and worked on the farm. Walter was enlisted into the army in February, 1945 and returned to the farm in November, 1946. Walter married Dorothy Young on April 1, 1955 at the Wayne Methodist Church. The couple made their home at the Hale farm northwest of Wakefield. Milking Brown Swiss cows and selling cream was a large part of every-day chores on the farm. Cattle and hogs were also raised. Walter and Dorothy raised two children, LeAnn Rae who died as a result of an auto accident in January, 1974 and Merrill. Dorothy died Sept. 29, 2008. Walter continued to live on the farm until moving to the Oaks in Wayne one year ago. Walter was a member of the United Methodist Church of Allen and the Legion Post. Survivors include his son Merrill and Margaret (Maggie) Hale of South Sioux City; two granddaughters, Vanessa and Derek Wright and Cora Hale of Sioux City, Iowa and two great-grandchildren; Aviya Wright and Jackson Benedict He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy and daughter LeAnn Rae. Pallbearers will be Terry Borg, Lyle Borg, Mark Borg, Joey Borg, Keith Woodward and Kevin Woodward. Thompson Chapel Funeral Home in Wakefield is in charge of arrangements.