Memorial
Dale Edward Maddy, of Marion, Iowa, died peacefully on Monday January 31, 2022, in UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital, at the age of 74. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 11th at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, where visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors.
Dale was born on the 2nd of May,1947, in Belleville, Ohio to Gordon and Leda (Askren) Maddy. Dale is survived by daughter, Tina (Robert) Bryant, sister’s, Rebecca Maddy, Vivian Roffey, Barbara (Lee) Carper, Mary (Mert) Newman, Alice Maddy, Clair (Kent) Cook, and brother’s Wayne Maddy, and Joel Maddy, step-grandson, Conner Bryant, ten nieces, five nephews and eleven first Cousins. He was preceded in death by his brother’s, Larry, Paul, John and his mother and father, four grandparents and four first cousins.
In his pre-teen years Dale was both a cub scout and a boy scout. After graduating from Western High School in 1965, he enrolled in RETS electronics school in Rock Island, Illinois, while at the same time, working for the John Deere Part Depot in East Moline, Illinois. When he turned nineteen, he enlisted in the US Navy and served two tours in Vietnam onboard the USS Kearsarge, as an electronic technician 3rd class. Dale was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
He married Katherine Hamrick on September 5, 1970.
After serving four years in the Navy, he returned to John Deere where he became a Branch Systems Analyst in their computer department. While working at Deere he earned a diploma from the New York Institute of Photography and did freelance photography, photographing mostly weddings. Six years later he chose to make a career change and worked for Agri-King as an Area Sales Manager and later a Divisional sales Manager managing Northern, Illinois and Eastern, Iowa. During that time, he learned magic and performed a 45 minute show for audiences up to 150 people.
Dale and his brother Wayne formed Maddy Nutrition in 1984 and Dale became the vice president.
Later Dale started his own computer consulting business in 1987, taking care of the computer needs of 100 small businesses in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. During this time, he participated in the making of the movie, “Fields of Dreams” where he met actors Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones.
In 1988 Dale became a member of Toastmasters.
In 1991 he accepted the position of Executive Vice President of Agri-Nutrition Consulting in Madison, Wisconsin. After suffering from a near fatal aortic aneurysm Dale retired in 2010 at the age of 62.
After retiring, Dale wrote a book “Million Dollar Experience” about his experiences during his time in the U.S. Navy. He spent the next couple of years promoting his book around the county. He joined the Kearsarge Association and became their newsletter editor and web master. In 2016, 2017, 2018 he was honored as the “Sailor of the Year”. He was also a member of the Frank E. Evans Association. He later moved to Marion, Iowa to be closer to his daughter, Tina. Dale became a member of Lodi’s American Legion Post 216, acting as key speaker for the 2014 Lodi Memorial Day Events. From 2015 to 2019, Dale spoke at the Lodi Grade School on Veterans Day. In 2018, on Veterans Day, he was the guest speaker at Bureau Valley High School in Manlius, Illinois.
In 2017 Dale was privileged with an “Honor Flight”, to Washington DC for his Navy Service in Vietnam and was accompanied by Tina. It was his proudest moment, second only to Tina’s birth.
Please leave a message for the family on our web page www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.
In Lieu of flowers please send donations to: Paralyzed Veterans of America, PO Box 758532. Topeka, Kansas 66675-8532.
The family would like to extend a thanks to the staff at UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital.
Dale’s book, “Million Dollar Experience” can be purchased at this link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0996075224/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i0