Edward Dalke, 84, of Hesston, passed
away on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at Pine Village in Moundridge,
Kansas. He was born September 20, 1938, in Fort Cobb, Oklahoma, the
youngest of seven children born to Henry and Carrie (Base) Dalke. He
spent his first years of life growing up on the Base home place in
Fort Cobb. Edward prayed to receive Christ as his savior at the age
of twelve after hearing an evangelist share the Gospel at his home
church, Green Field Mennonite, which was just a few miles away from
the Base home place.
As soon as he was big enough to pull a
sack behind him, Edward joined in the family?s work of picking
cotton. From a young age, it was his dream to be able to have and run
a farm of his own. After his brother Herman and wife Selma moved to
Halstead, they helped find work for Edward on nearby farms during the
summer. His parents, Henry and Carrie, also made the move to
Halstead, Kansas where Edward finished high school.
In the summer of 1957, Earl and Darlene
Bartel hired Edward as a farmhand, and a certain Joyce Voran as help
inside the house with cooking, cleaning, and watching the children.
Edward and Joyce were soon smitten with each other, got engaged at
Christmas and were married that next summer on June 20, 1958. They
had three children together, Ileen, Allen, and Janell.
Edward learned how to weld in high
school and went to Mechanics school in Denver after high school.
These things served him well when he went to work for Hesston
Corporation. Soon after Janell was born, Edward got to realize his
dream of having his own farm. The family moved to a farm just down
the road from Joyce?s home place, and Edward farmed that land for
over 50 years. He continued at Hesston Corporation while he began a
dairy. He operated a dairy for more than 20 years and then drove
truck for Sunglo Feeds for nearly 20 years. He served at Garden
Church all of his adult life in various capacities including the role
of Deacon and Elder. Church and ministry were very important in
Edward?s life. He loved his family, loved God and desired that all
of his friends and family have a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ. Survivors include his daughters, Ileen Miller of Oceanside,
California and Janell (Ray) Zuercher of Olathe, Kansas. Five
grandchildren: Clarissa Dalke, Tyler Dalke, Rachelle Clair, Jared
Zuercher, and Katelynn Zuercher. Ten great-grandchildren; brother,
Norman Dalke of Yukon, Oklahoma; sisters, Ruthie Nightengale of
Carnegie, Oklahoma and Edith Unruh of Halstead, Kansas; and numerous
nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Edward was preceded in
death by his parents; wife, Joyce; son, Allen; brothers, Herman and
Irwin; sister, Ruby Unruh; brothers-in-law, Alvin Unruh, Leo
Nightengale, and Bennie Unruh; sisters-in-law, Selma, Norabell, and
Micky. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, December
3, 2022 at Garden Community Church, rural Moundridge. The service
will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/gardencommunitychurch.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to
7 p.m., Friday, December 2, at Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston, with
family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made
out to Avant Ministries (memo line in memory of Edward Dalke) in care
of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box
