Dale Wesley Thoe

Dale Wesley Thoe passed away from sudden cardiac arrest on Tuesday evening March 19, 2024 in Woodland Park, Colorado at the age of 90.

Dale was born on December 14, 1933 in Minnesota, to his parents Irvin and Mildred Thoe. He was the youngest of 4 children, having 3 older sisters Irvine, Margaret, and Jean, and older brother Bob.

Dale graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1952 where he excelled in academics and athletics, with the high school motto: "Not small, rather tall, in his head he has it all!"

In September 1954, Dale married his true love Ilene Ardis Hagen, also a graduate of Lake Mills High School.

Together they decided they wanted a large family and wanted to raise their future children in a small town with a major university so that they could educate them properly.

After Dale graduated from Iowa State University, he and Ilene moved to California where he earned his masters degree from UC Berkeley and his PhD from Stanford University, both in mathematics.

The university town that they chose was West Lafayette, Indiana, home of Purdue University.

All six of Dale's children grew up happily there and all graduated from West Lafayette High School and also from Purdue.

Dale was an avid and skilled fisherman and outdoorsman. He tied his own flies and loved to set up camp to fish great rivers. Family camping and fishing trips were always a great fun adventure.

His greatest joy was sharing life with his sweetheart Ilene, and caring for his 6 adoring children.

His love grew as his family expanded to 17 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Dale was an exceptional father. To all who knew him and those he met, his sense of humor and intelligence left everyone feeling enriched. His kindness, thoughtfulness, curiosity, generosity and sparkling blue eyes will be missed tremendously.

No one could give a hug like Dale Thoe.

We are comforted that he is reunited with our loving and devoted mother Ilene.

We miss you so much daddy Dale.

He is survived by his sisters Margie and Jean, as well as his 6 children: Christine Thoe Ellis(Fred Haas), Gary Thoe(Merry), Janet Acosta(Aristeo), Eric Thoe(Cheryl), Ellen Laughlin(Roy), and David Thoe(Susan), 17 grandchildren: Evan Ellis, Justin Ellis, Andy Thoe, John Thoe, Ruthanne Kincannon(Thoe), Corby Thoe, Brandon Acosta, Alec Acosta, Nick Acosta, Erica Shmeiss(Thoe), Rachel Thoe, Hannah Thoe, David Thoe, Calvin Laughlin, Griffin Thoe, Annie Thoe, Carson Thoe as well as 9 great grandchildren.