Dale R. Hawk, 81, was born July 6, 1931, at Hennessey, Okla. to Nina (Witt) and Orville Hawk. He died at Windsor Place, Iola, on Tuesday, Feb.12, 2013.
He and his family moved to a farm east of Carlyle in 1939. He attended a country school, then went on to graduate from Iola High School in 1949.
After attending Iola Junior College for one year, he joined the Navy in 1950 and served until 1954. While in the Navy he served on a destroyer escort, which was sent to Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and Hawaii. While off the coast of Korea, his ship sailed through unswept minefields and fired at the mines to blow them up. At that time, Dale served as a gunner. He later served as a radioman. He enjoyed his time in the service of his country, but was glad to go home and go back to school.
Dale finished Iola Junior College and transferred to Kansas State College in Manhattan, graduating with a degree in agricultural engineering in 1959.
On May 24, 1953, Dale was married to Pauline Baugher, also of Iola. After suffering a debilitating illness at age 29, Dale returned to school to get his credit hours to teach math. He taught at Chanute Royster Junior High for two years. He then spent a year working at Cessna Aircraft in research and development before returning to teaching at Iola Junior High. He taught there for 24 years before his retirement in 1991.
Dale is survived by his wife Pauline of the home; daughters Sandy Frizell, Emporia, Diana Wilhite and husband Bob, Emporia, and Donna Regehr and husband Larry, Iola. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Keil Regehr, PhD, and wife Stacy of Madison, Wis., Jolie Chance, D.O., and husband Terry, D.O., Oak Grove, Mo., Logan Frank, M.D., and wife Jasmine El Khatib, D.O., Columbia, Mo., Ryan Regehr, Manhattan, Garett Frank, M.D., Denver, Colo., and Nick Frizell, Emporia. He had two step-grandchildren, Brian Wilhite and Brandy McGuire, Emporia; five great-grandchildren and four step great-grandchildren. His two brothers and their wives, Gary and Beverly Hawk and Bob and Ginny Hawk, Iola, also survive, along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Paul Martin. Dale was a great inspiration to his children, grandchildren and many whose lives he touched.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church, Iola. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church, Iola. Burial will be at Iola’s Highland Cemetery.
Memorial choices are First Christian Church or Allen County Hospice and may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
Dale Hawk
