Dale Waligorski age 88 passed away Monday December 7, 2020 at Oelwein Health Care Center. He was born in Fairbank Iowa to parents Paul and Bertha (Braun) Waligorski on November 30, 1932. The youngest of four children, the family lived and farmed just East of Fairbank. Dale graduated from Fairbank High School. After graduation he attended Upper Iowa University and graduated after three years with a degree in Biology.
The Army came a calling and Dale spent the next two years being a clerk. He spent 18 months overseas in Germany. He was honorably discharged from service and began his teaching career teaching Junior and Senior High Science in Geneva. His teaching career would take him to Dunkerton and eventually to the Waco School District, Wayland, Iowa, where he taught until his retirement.
During his teaching career he coached basketball and baseball. One of his fondest memories was beating Waterloo East on one night and then beating Oelwein the next night. A pretty big deal for the little school of Dunkerton. During the summer months, Dale managed the Fairbank Pool for many years.
After retirement he returned to his hometown of Fairbank. In his spare time Dale enjoyed fishing and watching ballgames. He was an avid gardener and also owned rental properties which kept him busy with maintenance and repairs.
Dale moved to assisted living in Fairbank on Labor Day weekend in 2012. He became a resident of Oelwein Care Center on December 8, 2012 and remained there until his passing.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, sister Doris Kaufman on September 30, 1996; sister Arlene Waligorski on January 22, 2004; and sister Lucile Geske on July 13, 2004; brother-in-law Arnold Geske on September 24, 2020. Left to celebrate his life are his nephew’s and niece’s: James Kaufman Jr., Des Moines; Jeffrey (Sharon) Geske, Peoria, IL; Elizabeth (Robert) Arnold, Sherburn, MN; and Jane (Kurt) Domeyer, Fairbank; and brother-in-law James Kaufman, Sr., West Union.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at Oelwein Care Center for treating Dale like a member of their family since 2012.
Dale will be laid to rest alongside his parents and sister Arlene in the Fairbank City Cemetery. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date. Memorials in honor of Dale may be directed to Oelwein Care Center, 600 7th Street SE, Oelwein, IA 50662
Condolences for Dale Paul Waligorski
REST IN PEACE, Uncle Dale! You were probably the most obstinate person, I ever knew; but your kindness, sense of humor, generosity, gentle and caring ways, are what we’ll miss most. “There, but for the Grace of GOD, go I.” All our love and prayers to you. GOD Bless!
My Coach.
Mr. Waligorski was an icon at WACO High School. He was unique and unforgettable.
Dale also had the best whistle when he was walking through church. He also helped fold bulletins for church with me, a fellow ISU fan. Miss you Dale
Rest in peace Dale, You were One of a Kind! Thoughts and Prayers to the families.
Ed Gipper, he truly was….
Wally was one of the teachers, coaches, characters and mentors that every student should have in their life. He made learning fun and gave me a lifelong love of biology. He was both the best and most annoying coach I ever had the pleasure of playing for (“On the line everyone we are running fipples until you get things right”). His humor led many a young student astray constantly encouraging us to play jokes on other teachers and classmates. Overall, he was a kind and good man/mentor that set many a young man and woman on the right path for a great future. Wally – you will be missed.
My coach also! still remember all the practices of doing it over and over until it was done right.
Our sympathies to all the family of Dale.
I had “Wally” for H.S. Biology. I think, long time ago. The guys would often try to sidetrack the class by talking sports. Probably wasn’t but seemed daily he “disciplined ” someone by assigning to copy “x” number of pages from the glossary. Just wish I knew these teachers as people as well as teachers. He was an interesting soul.
Osmosis and 99 more. Thank you to a great teacher!!
“Everyone on the line!” I would love to hear this one more time right about now. Loved this man!! Rest in peace “Wally”. Condolences to the family.
I enjoyed Wally being by my side during my first years at WACO. We had a lot of success and a lot of fun. his one liners always made me laugh when i needed it. He always knew what to say at just the right time.. I have never forgotten the lesson he taught me and and his players. RIP WALLY
Wally! What wonderful memories we all have of you at WACO! I gagged my way through dissecting that nasty rubbery frog and I saw you snickering on the side while pretending to be all serious. What a great guy. You will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. ❤
I remember that Heather! Wally was a great teacher. Sad to know he is gone.
An amazing man & Dear Friend. I was blessed to work with Dale at the pool for four years. Then later in life we reconnected. Love him like a second Father. His understanding, dedication and humor were admirable. Arlene & he were comical at times. She’d call him for dinner at the pool. I’d go out to tell him she was on the phone, dinner was ready. He’d duck down while cleaning the filters and say”tell her you don’t see me”. They were great. He never missed lunch with Arlene when she had to go to a home. He and my Dad (Ralph Gipper) were good friends. Think of them as having coffee today in heaven.
Wow Virginia, you really knew him well! Even though he and Arlene were brother and sister, they were like an “old married couple”; often bickering/nitpicking, but you knew deep down, it was All “Terms of Endearment”. Hopefully, they’re ALL having coffee in heaven. GOD Bless!
Jewell…turn to the glossary start with Plankton and do the next 50 terms. I did learn a lot!
I am glad I was able to experience first hand one of the highlights of your life. As an Oelwein High School 1962 basketball player.,I do remember that game in a different light. Rest in peace, Dale.
I remember you too as an opposing player…and a very good player.. thank you for the Sportsmanship
I have fond memories of him even though I couldn’t make the cut as a basketball player at DHS. I last saw him and Mr. Wilson at Bishop’s. We chatted a bit and I found it ironic he had retired from Waco-Olds and was familiar with the Baker and Boal families which my parents knew.
Randall B. Jones, he loved, loved eating at Bishop’s, I’m Not too sure, but I think…. that was one of his favorite, (IF not favorite…). restaurant’s.
My Dad passed this year too. He enjoyed the “Professor” company often at Fairbank Foods. Condolences from the Wachal family.
Robin Wachal, Thank you! My condolences to you, and your family, for the passing of your father, this year.. I believe he was a neighbor to my father James (Jim) Kaufman, Sr., at the Parkview Assisted Living in Fairbank. I remember my father commenting about the passing of your Dad. GOD Bless!
Wally was a great coach and better person. He cared deeply about his players. On snow days with no school, he would knock on our doors and take Troy and myself to the gym to shoot. Then reward us with a free meal afterward. His players spent many a nights at his house watching TV, eating, and harassing Mr. Bailey. I also recall one night of practice running the press-breaker for almost 2 hours to get it right. I hope my players can learn half as much from me as I learned from Wally. God Bless.
Thank you all so much for sharing your memories of our Uncle Dale. He truly was one of a kind and we were blessed to be in the Waligorski clan. Growing up with he and Aunt Arlene as mentors was truly a life changing experience! We are real close to egg nog night (always Christmas Eve) at Arlene & Dale’s House! Merry Christmas and Rest In Peace.
Liz (Geske) Arnold, who in our family could ever forget Christmas Eve (Eggnog night), at the Waligorski house? A memory/tradition for a lifetime. Aunt Arlene and Uncle Dale, Always made sure, the Holiday’s were special. This Christmas Eve, I will be raising a glass in honor, of both their memories! Merry Christmas everyone, and GOD Bless us All!
Coach you were truly one of a kind…all the sayings and little words that you coined that circulated in the school and beyond….that out of bounds play that you taught us won the conference Championship for us against an unrelenting Zone Press by our arch rival…Wapsi Valley…I think of those games and those days often.
Yes, Wally & his smile will remain in our DHS hearts. He was a sufficiently broad-minded scientist to accompany our class across the road to our farm for Daddy to demonstrate water witching holding 2 pieces of wire that would cross above a tile line. Is there a scientific explanation? I passed the class without learning that. And, yes, it was fun to be a Raider in ’61-62.
Proverbs 10:7 (NRSV):
The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.
My condolences . Dale always had time to chat – I would stop and talk to him while he was “tending” his garden. Always had that grin that let you know he had a story to tell. Peace, Dale.
Went to church and high school (FHS)
Cheered as he mad a shot in basketball. My condolences to the family.
He was such a great guy. We could always get him to smile when we called him “blue eyes” such a gentle soul. He will be missed. RIP Blue Eyes!
I had Wally for a Biology teacher at WACO (graduating 1981). I always looked forward to his class just to see who he would pick on that day. Always the cheerleaders and the prissy girls. One of the best memories is driving by Wally and Bailey’s house when a bunch of the guys in our class were over there watching movies. We knocked on the door but of course no one would let us in because we were girls. They turned all the lights off and then pretended they weren’t there. One of us happened to have a spotlight in our trunk, don’t ask me why, so the next lap around the block we made sure to point it right at his picture window and turn it on. All of them were lined up waiting for us and when we turned the light on they all scattered like cockroaches. Wally was not just a great teacher but always a great mentor and friend. My sympathy and prayers to his family and friends 🙏