Thursday, July 31, 2008

Joseph W. Dahlby

Joseph W. Dahlby, 74, passed away, due to multiple myeloma, at his residence on Thursday, July 31, 2008, surrounded by his family. He was born in Black River Falls on February 1, 1934, the son of the late Clifford and Wilma (nee: Hoeft) Dahlby.

Joe served his country with the U.S. Air Force from 1951 until 1958. On December 27, 1958, he was united in marriage to the former Nona Humble in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sparta. He received his degree from the University of Wisconsin- LaCrosse and his Master's from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Joe taught 6th Grade in the Racine Unified School District for over 35 years. He taught at Winslow, Franklin, Olympia-Brown and Starbuck schools. He developed the Creative Writing Program for the District.

Joe was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church, the Racine Dairy Statesmen, and the Church Singers. Joe loved baking and cooking. He provided both the REST and HALO programs with his home-cooked meals. He baked bread and sold it as Joe’s Dough’s for the Relay for Life.. Joe was very involved with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. In 1999 Joe was honored as The Man of the Year by the V.F.W. He also enjoyed traveling, woodworking; making candlesticks, doll furniture, assorted carvings, painting murals, singing and napping. His favorite hobby was being involved with his grandchildren.

Surviving are his devoted wife of nearly 50 years, Nona; their children, Brenda (David) Olmstead, Jane (Donald) Christensen, Katrina (Michael) Koester, all of Franksville, and Kurt (Gina) Dahlby of Mansfield, OH; son-in-law David Simington of Racine; 13 grandchildren, Jacqueline (Patrick) Pingel, Jacob (fiancée Stephanie Cully) Olmstead, Melisa, Ben, and Heidi Christensen, Emily and Tate Koester, Hans and Erika Dahlby, Gabrielle Hirth, David and Earl Simington; 2 great-grandchildren, Katherine and Lillian Pingel; brothers and sisters, Roger (Bev) Dahlby of Whitehall, WI, Larry (Linda) Dahlby of Sparta, Rosemary (Richard) Davis of Delavan, David (Daeng) Dahlby of Maui, Joyce (Walt) Sanders of Sparta, Paul Dahlby of La Crosse, Fred (Diane) Dahlby and Mary Kay Spicci all of Sparta; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Richard (Diane) Humble of Lillian, FL, and Jackie Dahlby of Indianapolis, IN. His nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends also survive Joe. In addition to his parents Joe was preceded in death by his daughter Teresa Simington; brothers David and John Dahlby; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Shirley and Bob Sorenson.

His funeral service will be held on Monday, August 4, at 11 a.m. in Atonement Lutheran Church, 2915 Wright Ave., with Revs. Dr. Warren D. Williams and Rev. Denise Mbsie officiating. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Sunday, August 3, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and in the church on Monday, from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial, with full military honors, will be in West Lawn Memorial Park. The family has suggested memorials to either Atonement Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life-Guardian Angels.

The family would like to publicly thank Dr. Marcelo Pasquini and his staff as well as the entire nursing staff of 4C at the Zablocki V.A. Medical Center for the extraordinary care, love and dignity given Joe and his family.

DRAEGER-LANGENDORF FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY
4600 County Line Rd., Racine 262-552-9000

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Mr Dahlby was my 6th grade teacher at Winslow school in 1965..He was my favorite teacher of all time and he created the spark in me to contimue learning..I am a director of information technology at a hospital in Wisconsin that I can credit back to mr. Dahlby for his involvement in helping me to always strive to be better..i am so sorry to hear of his passing and I send my sympathy to his family..He was a great man..- Mike DiPasquale