Dale Edward Jennings, 84, of North Platte, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2015 at Great Plains Health hospital in North Platte.
Dale was born to Edward V. and Mary E. Miller Jennings in Hershey, NE, on March 22, 1931 at the home of John and Rose Keeney. He went home to join his older sisters, Nettie and Bonnie, at the family ranch located on the Birdwood Creek north of Sarben. They later moved to the Stone Ranch west of Sutherland, where his sister Dixie and brother Ralph were born. The family moved to North Platte in March of 1936.
Dale attended McKinley Grade School, Franklin Jr. High School and graduated from North Platte High School in 1949. In December 1951, he joined the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War, flying 52 combat missions as an air crew member. During his time in the Air Force, he was stationed in Texas, Korea, and Washington, D.C. On June 2, 1955 he married Joanne Black of Tryon, NE, and they spent their first six months of married life in Washington, D.C. while Dale was stationed at Bolling AFB. Following his discharge in December 1955, they made their home in North Platte. Dale hired on with Union Pacific Railroad in August 1956 and worked as a yard switchman, new student instructor, and brakeman on train runs to Cheyenne, WY. They built a home just south of North Platte on Highway 83 near the NPPD supply canal and lived there until moving to his current address. He retired from the railroad April 1, 1992.
Dale and Joanne greatly enjoyed the RV life-traveling, camping, visiting friends and family and enjoying the outdoors. They had a small cabin at Martin Bay on Lake McConaughy and had purchased a residence in Brownsville, TX for a place to spend away from the cold of Nebraska winters. Dale was a member of the Union Pacific Old Timers Club, the Moose Club, and the VFW.
Dale is survived by his sister Dixie Greenwood and brother Ralph Jennings both of North Platte; sisters-in-law, Joyce Wilkins of Kearney and Jerry (Gary) Neal all of North Platte; good friend, Joanne Anderson of North Platte; and an extensive extended family of nieces and nephews whom he had “adopted” as his own.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joanne; sisters, Nettie Frost and Bonnie Neeley; sister-in-law, Janis Nielsen; brothers-in-law, Buddy Wilkins, Darwin Nielson, Larry Greenwood, and Bob Frost; nephew, Steve Frost; great-nephew, Cody Wilkins; great-niece, Kylee Neal; stepbrother-in-law, Rick Black; stepmother-in-law, Leah Black; and god-son, Zachary Peters.
Memorials may be made in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
An informal celebration of Dale’s life will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home. Private family burial will be in the Miller Cemetery. Visitation will be noon until 9:00 p.m. Thursday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.