12/31/2009
Dale Drew Randol was born on February 20, 1925, in Knoxville, Iowa. He was the youngest
of two children born to Wilbur Cecil and Rea May (Pope) Randol. Dale attended the
Knoxville Community Schools through the eighth grade.
As a young man, he worked at
the hammermill in Des Moines, Iowa grinding feed and loading sacks for delivery.
This work ethic remained with him. Dale enlisted in the Army and served his country
during World War II. Dale was a surviving member of the Battle of the Bulge. After
the war, Dale returned to Knoxville and worked at the VA Hospital until the time
of his marriage.
On May 29, 1946, he was united in marriage to Betty Miedema at Troy,
Kansas. Betty was a homemaker who made her home a happy one for her husband and
two sons, Michael and Eric.
After marriage, Dale took advantage of the GI Bill and
learned the carpentry trade. Later he joined Robert F. Van Vark and formed Van Vark
and Randol Construction. They were both successful in this venture and were responsible
for building many of the homes around Pella. Dale retired at the age of 42, but
didn’t quit working. He would offer his assistance and advice, helping friends and
neighbors with various building projects.
Betty died on March 15, 1972, at the University
Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. On June 13, 1972, Dale and Grace Leola Knight were
married in Pella, Iowa. Grace’s two daughters, Shirley and Diane became a blended
family with Michael and Eric.
After a life of retirement together, enjoying each
others company and love, Grace fell ill and passed away on December 29, 2003, at
the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 80 years.
Dale later
in life married Connie DeVries in 2004 and remained together until both of their
health issues need more attention. Dale became a resident of Hilltop Manor in
Pella until moving to Griffin Nursing Home in Knoxville in 2007.
On New Year’s Eve
In 2009, Dale passed away at the Knoxville Community Area Hospital at the age of
84 years.
Those left to cherish his memory are his two sons, two stepdaughters,
and their families. Mike and Kendra (Wineland) Randol of Pella, Iowa, Kelly and
Dan Schakel, Brandon Schakel, Devin Pushor, Jordan Pushor, Chad and Tricia Randol,
Tanner Randol, Brynn Randol; Eric and Debbie (See) Randol of Pella, Iowa, Pete Randol
and Drew; Shirley and Ronald McCombs of Reasnor, Iowa, Ron Jr., and Macy McCombs,
Don McCombs, Matt and Lisa McCombs, Mike and Julie McCombs; S. Diane and Mike Vos
of Des Moines, Iowa, Dustin Dixon and Simon Vos. Dale was the last surviving member of his original family.
He was preceded in death by his three wives, Betty (Miedema)
Randol, Grace (Long) Randol, and Connie DeVries who died in 2009 have three sons, Jimmy
and Jerry Randol (twins) and Curtis Dale Randol, his brother Herbert Randol and
his parents. Dale was a member of the Pella Church of the Nazarene and The Gideon’s.
Dale will be remembered for his Love and Devotion to his family and friends.