DALE V. WESTER, 88, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away Sunday evening, October 2, 2011 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 7th at 2 p.m. at the Oakdale Evangelical Free Church, rural Meriden, Iowa. Pastor Clint Hogrefe will officiate. Burial will be in Liberty Township Cemetery, rural Meriden. There will be military rites at the cemetery by L.A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F.W. There will be a family prayer service at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the church. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 6th, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6-8 p.m. at Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Dale was born on September 1, 1923 to Elmer & Mabel (Anderson) Wester on the family farm in rural Cleghorn, Iowa. He graduated from Cleghorn High School in 1941. He was united in marriage to Patricia Carlson on November 25, 1949 at Boone, Iowa. Dale farmed until 2008 but continued his interest in the farming operation. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army Air Force as a top gunner on a B-29. He was a member of the Oakdale Evangelical Free Church and as a young man, trusted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and served him faithfully his entire life. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren's athletic and musical events, playing games, and time spent with his family. Dale had been a resident of the Heartland Care Center in Marcus the past two months and prior to this lived in Cherokee since 1989 and before this on a farm in Liberty Township.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Wayne in 1976, brothers Vernon & Roy Wester.

Dale is survived by his loving wife Patricia; three daughters: Jean Graff and her husband Randy of Spirit Lake, Iowa; Nancy Peterson and her husband Lloyd of Cleghorn, Iowa; Jill Kischer and her husband Kim of Albert City, Iowa; 6 grandchildren: Jason (Kami) Graff; Jordan Graff and his fiancé Kim McCauley; Ross Peterson and his fiancé Kristen Beier; Kimberly Peterson; Trent Kischer; Chad Kischer; 1 great granddaughter: Adalyn Graff; brothers and sisters: Eleanor Lundell of Paullina, Iowa; Lorraine (Robert) Mortenson of Cherokee, Iowa; Rev.Merle (Eleda) Wester of Cherokee, Iowa; Evelyn (Karl) Kludas of Cherokee, Iowa; Jeanette (Larry) Johnson of Meriden, Iowa; sisters in law: Elsie Wester of Paullina, Iowa and Lillian Carlson of Minneapolis, Minnesota; also many nieces & nephews.