DALE J. JAEGER

Dale J. Jaeger, 62 of Devils Lake, ND passed away at his home on Monday, November 3, 2014 in the loving care of his beloved family and friends and Altru Hospice. Mass of the Resurrection for Dale will be held on Friday, November 7, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with Father Matthew Kraemer celebrating the Mass. Dale will be laid to rest in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Vistation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday afternoon beginning with a Rosary at 5:00 p.m. with a Time of Remembrance and Sharing from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Friday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Dale Jerome Jaeger was born on November 10, 1951, son of John and Lena (Dosch) Jaeger in Devils Lake. He attended St. Joseph’s School, graduating from St. Mary’s Academy in 1970. Dale entered the US Navy in 1973 and served active duty until 1977. His navel career would have him serve on several destroyers during the Vietnam War. He then served with the Naval Reserve until 1979. He returned to Devils Lake and met Cathy Mostad from Langdon, ND and they were married in 1979. They were the proud parents of Jeremy Daniel born in March of 1981. He began working for Burlington Northern Railroad in 1979 then in 1981 moved to Big Bow, Kansas and worked for Joe Byer Farms until 1984. He returned to Devils Lake and Dale could be seen tending bar at the 11th Frame, Ye Olde Tavern, KC Hall, was assistant manager of the VFW Club and also worked for Swenson’s Plumbing and Heating for several years. Dale entered the North Dakota National Guard in 1985 and served until 2004. Dale was united in marriage to Trudi VanLeur in August of 1990 in Devils Lake. That same year, Dale was deployed to serve in Desert Shield/Storm as a member of the 132nd QM Company of Cando, ND. Dale returned from the Middle East on July 1, 1991. Dale and Trudi continued to make Devils Lake their home until 1992 when they moved to Penn, ND. Upon his return from active duty, Dale worked as a Maintenance Assistant at the Devils Lake Good Samaritan Center. Later that year, Dale started at Camp Grafton as a Heating Plant Operator. A few years later, he transferred to Camp Grafton State Shop until ill health forced him to retire in 2006. Throughout his military career, Dale was the recipient of many medals and citations. Many challenges laid ahead for Dale-the latest being the diagnosis of lung cancer in August of this year. He faced each challenge with strength and love of his family and friends. A true fighter. Dale enjoyed many things-darts, softball, Elvis, the Denver Bronco’s and John Wayne movies. Always proud of his military career, he was a member of the VFW Honor Guard of Devils Lake for over 20 years and the Camp Grafton Honor Guard. He was a life member of the VFW Post #756, Post Commander of Post #756 from 1992 to 1994, and member of the MOC-Pup Tent #7 (Military Order of the Cooties). Dale is survived by his loving family. His wife Trudi; son J.D. Jaeger (Hillary Green) of League City, TX; 6 year old granddaughter MaKenzie Green and soon to be born grandson Jakson Dale Jaeger; mother Lena Jaeger, Devils Lake; brothers Daniel (Sue) Jaeger, Austin, MN, Darrell (Jackie) Jaeger, Devils Lake and sister Diane Jaeger, Maricopa, AZ; father-in-law and mother-in-law Red and Margo VanLeur, Devils Lake; in-laws Traci and Randy Kraft, Devils Lake, Tammi and Dale Wohlers, Virginia Beach, VA, Tom VanLeur, Fargo; special nieces and nephews Todd and Jackie Kraft, David and Amanda Reed, Matthew and Sarah Wohlers, Tessa and Justin Hayes, Erik (Jeremy) Knutson, Josh (Kaylee) Jaeger, Jeb Jaeger, Kailee and Dan Matejcek; great niece Cora Hayes; great nephews Robbie Adsit and Daniel Wohlers; several aunts, uncles and cousins. Dale was preceded in death by his father, John and his grandparents.