Dale Wann

Dale Lee Wann, 71, passed away 12/15/2025, at his home in Glen Elder. He was born to Dale Leon and Rose Wann on 12/14/1954 in Albuquerque, NM. He spent 30 years living with his wife, Wendy, in Clay Center. With his declining health the last two years, they decided to move to Glen Elder to be closer to their daughter, Carly.

Dale grew up in a military family and attended multiple schools as a child. He overcame many hardships in his childhood. He always said he went to "The School of Hard Knocks." He began his career as a machinist where he enjoyed making tool and die equipment. Moving on to plumbing for awhile, followed by working as a plant operator making tire sealant for a dear friend. While working at the tire sealant plant, he went on many business trips to other countries like South Africa, China, and Australia teaching on how to make the tire sealant. He enjoyed traveling the world and also brought back neat souvenirs for his family and friends. From there, he went back to working as a machinist prior to his retirement. He was a jack of all trades and could fix just about anything that needed fixing.

Aside from his work, Dale was an excellent cook. He loved being in the kitchen making all his friends and family food or catering for events and clubs. Everything he made was delicious, his homemade spaghetti takes the cake though. He didn't know how to cook for just a couple people, so you were always sent home with leftovers. His meals will sure be missed.

He enjoyed gardening, golfing, hunting, and fishing. He even held a black belt in karate. He had a green thumb and for several years, he tended to an orchard and a large garden growing many types of fruits and vegetables that he shared with lots of people. He knew all the perfect spots for hunting morel mushrooms and probably shot a squirrel or rabbit here and there while he was out gathering the mushrooms. He spent many evenings on the river bank fishing with his dear friend, Joe. In his final months when he wasn't able to go out and about, you could find him sitting on his porch waving at all that went by and watching the squirrels, birds, and rabbits play in his neighborhood. He even tried to lure the critters in with peanuts. He got the squirrels to come up to his trees on the side of the yard, but hadn't quite convinced them to come to the porch just yet.

Dale is survived by his wife, Wendy; daughters: Vicky (Eddie) Brewer and Carly (Mitchell) Gourley; granddaughters: Bailey (Logan) Ferdelman, Jordan Vaughn, Myla Gourley, and Ava Gourley; grandson: Tristan Brewer; sisters: Denise (Pam) Brown and Donna (Dale) James; dear friends: Joe Beck and Cathy Hamilton; great grandchildren: Elias, Anneliese, Presley, and Soni. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, family and friends that will miss him dearly.

Dale is preceded in death by his father and mother, mother and father-in-law, brother Kenny Wann, dear friend Mike Wernette, his African grey parrot, Woody, and his beloved cats, Nipper and Jake.