Dale Van Horn

Dale Raymond Van Horn, 79, of Fort Collins, passed away Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006. He was born March 27, 1926, in Allison, Iowa, to Dick and Marie Van Horn. He was born and raised on a farm and joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. He married the "love of his life," Betty Jean Cowell, on May 29, 1947, in Vilmar, Iowa. Dale operated his own plumbing business in Charles City, Iowa. He moved to Colorado in 1972 and worked for Allen Plumbing and Heating for 17 years as a serviceman, then retired. He still enjoyed doing plumbing jobs until his accident in September 2005. He loved playing cards, watching football, fishing, hunting, going to Black Hawk and taking care of his great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, Elks Lodge, American Legion and VFW. Dale is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty; three daughters, Becky Rand John of Rudd, Iowa, Daylene Stelpflug Allan of St. Ansgar, Iowa, and Starr Quam Al of Fort Collins; seven grandchildren, John Hurd, Dale Hurd Gena, Jennifer Hurd, Jessica Stelpflug, Jaqueline Stelpflug, Jamie Stelpflug and Dallas Quam; 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Wanda Johnson Ray and Evelyn Walls, of Greene, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Helen Wiebke, of Greene, Iowa. Thank you to all the medical personnel who tried to help Dale recover from his brain injury, with a special thank you to Tamera and Candy, the caring therapists at Columbine Care Center East in Fort Collins. To all the wonderful, sensitive staff of the Hospice Center at McKee in Loveland, a very heartfelt thank you. To all of the friends who helped the family during his final days, we will forever remember you. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bohlender Funeral Home, 121 W. Olive St., with military honors by the Fort Collins All Veterans Honor Guard. A celebration of Dale's life for family and friends will be at the Moose Lodge No. 275, 1424 E. Mulberry St., after the memorial service. Memorial contributions can be made to the Dale Raymond Van Horn Memorial Fund in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524.