Ivan Dale

Ivan Edward Dale, age 90, of Rye, Colorado and Sun City, Arizona passed away peacefully at home on December 6, 2021. Ivan was born June 27th, 1931 in Greeley Colorado, to Edward Fisher Dale and Louise Crowley Dale. He attended Colorado State University where he was a member of Farmhouse Fraternity and studied agriculture. After serving stateside as a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force during the Korean War, he married Dona Mae Zgut, whom he met at CSU where Ivan returned to finish his degree. The pair moved to Keensburg where Ivan joined his father once again in farming. After their first three daughters were born, the family moved to Rye where they welcomed their fourth daughter. Ivan began an earth excavation business and returned to school, this time attending Southern Colorado State College to earn his teaching certificate. So began Ivan’s dedication to the students and community of the Rye area. Ivan taught school at Rye High School for 21 years. He continued working with his backhoe in the summers and on weekends, for individuals and all three local summer camps. He loved being able to spend time on the mountain and recounting those stories with his family. He had a smile on his face even when sharing stories like the time he used his backhoe to plow a path back to the highway when his truck became stuck in the snow after doing a late fall job for the Forest Service! During this time he served as a part time deputy sheriff and posse member for Pueblo County, as well as 40 years with the Rye Fire Department as a fireman and EMT, including a number of years as Assistant Fire Chief. For years St. Aloysius Catholic Church never had to worry if their parking lot would be cleared of snow following a storm, with Ivan always coming down the mountain to help with his plow. Depending on who needed it at the time, he might swing by friend’s homes, too! Ivan always loved a time to celebrate with family and friends. Whether enjoying time with his family at home or through his lifetime of traveling with Dona by his side, he was always ready for another adventure. Recently he spoke about how happy he was to have been able to celebrate his 90th birthday in June, Dona’s in November, and their 66th wedding anniversary just after Thanksgiving this year with so many of their loved ones wonderful wishes. The Blue Spruce tree Cheri (oldest daughter) had hand selected and brought down from their own little piece of paradise in Rye was standing proudly in the living room of Ivan and Dona’s Sun City house, though not yet decorated, and we were beginning to decorate the yard. Even in his last few peaceful days, Ivan was able to enjoy some of what has been a beloved tradition for as long as any of us can remember. Although our hearts will miss him, we know he is still here with us. Missed, but never forgotten, by his wife Dona, daughters, Cheri Dale, Sandra Woodruff, Julie Bouzis and Lauri (Douglas)Sutton, five granddaughters: Kristen Kellar, Kathleen Bouzis, Jessica White, Susanne Scougale, and Sophia Bouzis, two great-grandsons Elias and Colton, sister MaryEllen (Don) Bell, brother Allen (Shirley) Dale, and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at St. Joachim and St. Anne Parish in Sun City, AZ at 10:00 am on Tuesday, December 14th. A memorial and interment will be scheduled in Colorado in the spring. Please consider sending memorial contributions to the Rye Fire Protection District, P.O. Box 19190, Colorado City, CO 81019.