Dale W. Wendorff

Dale W. Wendorff, 89, of Spring Valley,MN and former longtime Stewartville,MN resident, died on Saturday( December 26, 2020)  with his loving children at his side, of natural causes, at Mayo Clinic Rochester – St. Marys Campus.

Dale William Wendorff was born on May 2, 1931 in Riceville,IA to George and Hulda(Miltida) Wendorff.  He grew up in Riceville, attended school there, graduating from Riceville  H.S in 1949.  Dale enlisted into the U.S. Navy serving his country honorably  from 1949 to 1953, including duty overseas in Korea. After his discharge, he returned home and worked briefly in television repair, then at the Oliver tractor factory in Charles City, IA. In 1956 he was employed at IBM in Rochester. Dale was married on October 27, 1957 at the Grand Meadow Lutheran Church to Iona Constance Queensland. The couple lived in Rochester for a few years before moving to Stewartville in 1962, where they raised their children and made their home for many years. Dale was a 29 year employee at IBM,  retiring in 1985.  Iona was a stay at home Mom and homemaker.  Dale and Iona were long-time Stewartville residents until finally giving up on the cold winters up north and moving down south, to Spring Valley,MN in 2005.  The two enjoyed driving to Riceville or back to Stewartville to talk with all their friends over coffee. They celebrated their 57th anniversary shortly before Iona’s passing on October 30,  2014.  Dale was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville, where he  volunteered teaching Sunday school.  He enjoyed  gardening,  golfing, shopping with his wife Iona and watching the Vikings and Twins. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who loved spending time with his family.

Dale is survived by his daughter and son,  Angela Cominos Koehler and husband Ronn Koehler of Saugastuck,MI  and  Jerome Wendorff and wife Elizabeth (Fitzgerald) Wendorff  of Rochester,MN;  four grandchildren, Nicolas Cominos, Justin Cominos, Hannah Wendorff, and Sarah Wendorff. He was preceded in death by his wife – Iona, his parents and sister – Arla Ewy.

A private family internment will take place  at Bear Creek Lutheran Cemetery in rural Grand Meadow after the holidays and there will be a celebration of Dale’s life around Dale’s birthday in 2021.  In lieu of flowers and gifts the family asks that donations in Dale’s name be made to the National Ataxia Foundation at https://ataxia.org/donate  Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville.  Memories and condolences of Dale are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

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