Dale Whittaker

1947 - 2025

Dale Alan Whittaker, age 78 of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Monday 9/22/2025.

Dale was born on June 17, 1947 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The son of Donald and Betty (Ahrens) Whittaker, Dale graduated from Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School in 1965. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics with a minor in physics from Creighton University.

After college, Dale moved to California, where he worked as an engineer in the aerospace industry. He had a lifelong love of astronomy, and was proud of his role in making gyroscopes used in the space shuttle. He also helped build pressure sensors found in many pieces of today's medical equipment.

In 1992, Dale married his college sweetheart, Kathleen Kerns, formerly of Council Bluffs, Iowa. They began their life together in California, but in 2007, the couple moved to Atlantic, Iowa to be closer to their family. He concluded his engineering career in 2012, retiring from Mahle in Atlantic.

Dale was an active member of the Cass County Democrats, and served as their treasurer for many years.

Dale is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kathy; daughter Lydia (Mark) Rothfusz and grandchildren, Lisa Nieland of Baxter, Iowa; Andrew Rothfusz of Atlantic, Iowa; Aaron Rothfusz of Ames, Iowa; and Katy Rothfusz of Iowa City, Iowa; great-grandchildren are Arabella and Weston Nieland; He is beloved by his sisters, Debbie ( Dr. Tom) Lenz of Clayton, California; Kristi (Craig) Stemple of Council Bluffs, Iowa; And Sue (Jim) Day of Bennington, Nebraska and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Preceding Dale in death are his parents and grandparents.

Following his cremation, an informal celebration of Dale's life will be held on Saturday 9/27/2025 from 3-6 p.m. at the clubhouse of Greenbriar apartments,1400 Franklin Avenue in Council Bluffs. Interment will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dale's name may be directed to the family.