Dale Lester Calease, 81

Dale Lester Calease, 81, of Waverly, Iowa died on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, surrounded by family. Dale was born on September 20, 1943 in Clarksville, IA, the son of Lawrence and Ella (Schilling) Calease. 

He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Clarksville. Dale spent his early years on a farm in Plainfield and attended the Fremont Township #3 country school and Plainfield High School until the family moved to Clarksville in 1958. Dale was an All Conference Football player and sought after to help bale hay and other farm jobs. Dale graduated from Clarksville High School in 1961. On a fateful night his senior year, he attended a dance at the Janesville Riviera and met the love of his life, Ellen Vada Maloy. They were married in 1962. Dale initially worked for Oliver Tractors in Charles City before farming full time. Dale and Ellen farmed for 6 years in the Clarksville area and then purchased the home farm north of Waverly in 1967. Dale was an innovative corn and soybean farmer, and early adopter of terraces and no-till farming. He was even featured in the Wall Street Journal. In his years of farming, he milked cows, and raised beef cows, sheep, chickens, ducks and pigs farrow to finish. He also maintained a small herd of horses for his girls.  Dale and Ellen designed and built a cabin in bluff country where they help maintain a tree farm. Dale also sold seed corn. 

Dale was an avid fisherman and deer and pheasant hunter. He was active in church, the Soybean Association, and Pork Producers.  However, his greatest passion was his family. He cherished his wife, his four daugthers and their families. He supported and showed up for them in countless ways, whether it was attending a sporting event, musical shows, dance competitions, plays, and horse shows. He loved vacationing with family and friends and traveled to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. He embraced life and new adventures like snorkeling and water skiing.  He was always available to lend a hand to help or an ear to listen. He was generous, dedicated, loving, giving, and full of grace and was genuinely interested in truly hearing what others thought. 

Dale is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ellen, his daughters Deanna (Allan) Williams, Plainfield, IA, Cindy (Jim) Weckwerth, Stillwater, MN, Cheryl (David) Fox,  Waverly, IA and Sara (Chris) Demuth, Ottumwa, IA. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jessica Williams Falbrová, Josh (Johnelle) Williams, Mitch (Britany) Williams, Joseph Weckwerth, Analeese Weckwerth, Nick Langer, Gabrielle (Kyle) Estel, Hannah Calease Fox (Sawyer Herman), Lauren Calease Fox, Brenna Demuth, Avery Demuth; and his great grandchildren Kinsley, Adelyn, Caedence, Jameson, Declan, Maddox, and Everett Williams, Christopher and Wyatt Langer, and Owen Hanson.  Dale is also survived by his siblings Dean Calease, Janice Metz, Lloyd (Patricia) Calease, Lee (Patty) Calease, Jerry (Kathy) Calease, Carolyn (Rich) Dirksen and Shirley (Dan) Clark.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Ella (Schilling) Calease, and brother-in-law Leland (Red) Metz.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 22, at Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday June 23, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Waverly.  Burial will follow in Horton Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to Trinity United Methodist Church or Bremer County Fairgrounds.  Online condolences may be left atwww.kaisercorson.com