Dale Hawk

Send Flowers Dale Hawk June 27, 1921 - May 14, 2015 Dale Hawk, Jr. was born in Colby, KS on June 27, 1921, the first child of Loyal Dale Hawk and Lois Mallory Hawk. He passed away Wednesday morning, May 14, 2015 at Citizens Medical Center at the age of 93 years and 10 ½ months. Dale attended Colby Public schools, graduating from Colby High School in 1939. While attending high school, he was active in football and track. During his senior year he was selected as Captain of the Colby Football Team. After graduation he worked loading beer trucks and put together egg cases. On January 23, 1942 he married his high school sweetheart, Della Katherine (Katie) Larson. Dale served active duty in the Army during WWII from July 23, 1942 to October 12, 1945. He served with the 433rd Anti-Aircraft Battalion and served in many parts of Europe and Northern Africa. Dale continued to serve his country by being very active in the VFW since its formation in Colby in 1946 as well as being an American Legion member since 1945. Following the war, opportunity knocked for Dale and his cousin Raymond Mallory when they formed a partnership in a wholesale food distribution business named Hawk and Mallory Produce. They made trips to Denver twice a week on Sundays and Tuesdays to get fresh vegetables, potatoes, onions, canned goods and later expanded to get ice cream and dairy products from the Concordia based Fairmont/Roberts Dairy. They delivered their load to the grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, and schools in Burlington, Goodland, Brewster, Colby, Atwood, Selden, Rexford, Menlo, Hoxie, Jennings, and Norcatur. Dale retired formally in 1983 and sold his share of the business to his son . Dale was a lifelong member of the Colby United Methodist Church, waiting to be baptized after returning home from the Army in 1946. He was active and a founding member of the Colby V.F.W. Barnett Post in 1946 serving as Post Commander. He was also a lifetime member of the American Legion since 1945. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and its many activities, especially Sunday night Bingo, were always important to him and he spent many hours working on the various projects of the post. There he often spoke of his lifelong friends who had served their country and worked diligently as he did in providing many community activities at the post. Dale was a strong supporter of the Colby Schools and attended all the alumni reunions and sporting events. In fact he bought the second seat to be sold in the new stadium at Dennen Field in the 1960s. Like most western Kansas men, Dale enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger years and enjoyed golf as well as visiting with friends. He was even able to win a few trophies at the Colby Buffalo Chip into his early 80's and was always a fun golfing partner. His wife, Katie, was a lifelong business partner and served as secretary and accountant for the family business for over 40 years. She passed away on November 19, 1989 in Colby after an extended illness at the age of 67. She is still fondly remembered by her friends and family. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Katie, sisters Peggy (Paul) Bedore, Shirley (Ray) Martin, Betty (Stuart) Brenn, brother Robert (Nadine) Hawk, infant granddaughter Elizabeth Hawk (Jay and Catherin), and daughter-in-law Tamara J. (Tom) Hawk. He is survived by his sons, Tom (Diane) Hawk, Manhattan and Jay(Catherin) Hawk, Colby; grandchildren Skyler Hawk, Hong Kong; Cameron Hawk, Hong Kong; Jared Hawk, Colby; Jesse Hawk, Colby; and Joanna Hawk, Denver; Nicole DeNoon, Garden City; Lindsey (Matt) Dewell, Olathe; great grandchildren Kaden and Kenzie Strasser, Garden City; Gavin Dewell, Olathe; brother Gary (Carol) Hawk, Great Bend and sister-in-law Nadine Hawk, Colorado Springs; and a host of nieces and nephews. Viewing will be Sunday, May 17 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Kersenbrock Funeral Home. Dale's memorial service is Monday, May 18, 10:30 a.m. at the Colby United Methodist Church with burial in Beulah Cemetery, Colby, KS.