Dale Alan Yeager

1940 - 2017

GALESBURG - Dale Alan Yeager, 76, Galesburg, died at 2:50 p.m. Thursday, April 13, 2017 at Rosewood Care Center, Galesburg.
He was born on May 21, 1940, and was a lifelong resident of Galesburg. Growing up he was a fun-loving son and brother who always enjoyed practical jokes and goofing around. He graduated from Galesburg High School in 1958 where he ran track and played basketball. He married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Sage, on April 22, 1960, to whom he was married for 56 years until his death.
He began his working career in the family business, Yeager & Sons Heating and Cooling, and then went on to own several small businesses along the way, including Yeager Hardware. In his spare time, he enjoyed sports, fishing, playing instruments, restoring homes and spending time with his friends and growing family.
In 1981, he survived a massive stroke that left him physically incapacitated but no less a loving husband, father, brother and friend. Through it all, he remained a positive and inspirational figure and force in the lives of those around him, never complaining about his circumstance and always wanting to simply enjoy a good laugh or joke.
His favorite mottos were "The Pack will be back" as well as "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" - and that he most certainly did.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Frances (Busse) Yeager; his brother, John Yeager; and his sisters, Corrine Yeager and Mary (Yeager) Mahoney; and his nephew, Tyson Yeager.
He will be deeply missed by his wife, Sharon; his daughter, Kelly (and Doug) Gau of Galesburg; his son, Mike (and Michelle) Yeager of Morrison, Colorado; and his daughters Patricia (and Greg) McCrery of Atlanta, Georgia, and Jane (and Wayne) Keller of Deland, Florida.
He is also in the loving thoughts of his nine grandchildren who each gave him absolute joy in the latter part of his life: Alex and Lauren Gau; Mathew, Joseph and Jack Yeager; Philip and Samantha McCrery; and Annika and Sara Keller.
He is survived by his sisters Lois (and Leo) Dawson of Kalispell, Montana, and Donna Grady of Campbell, California, as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to give special thanks to his friend, Don "Gilly" Gillenwater for being his constant companion as well as his caregivers at Rosewood Care Center, St. Mary's and Cottage hospitals for their unending kindness.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. Rev. Pamela Marolla will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Galesburg. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Gordon Behrents Senior Center Adult Day Services. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.