Dale Clark HOPPES

ORD — Dale C. Hoppes, 94, of Ord passed away Sunday, April 17, 2016, at home. Mr. Hoppes’ wishes were to be cremated. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 25, at Ord Bethany Lutheran Church, with Pastor Glenda Pearson officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Ord VFW Post 7029 and American Legion Post 38 at the church. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Dale was born Dec. 4, 1921, in Burwell to Robert and Edith “Lou” (Mattern) Hoppes. He was raised at Burwell and graduated from Burwell High School in 1940. Dale enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1940. After basic training, Dale was chosen to attend medical training for a period of nine weeks at Sam Houston University in Texas. After completion, he served as a medic in the U.S. Army. Dale sailed out of the New York City harbor aboard the Thomas H. Barry, through the Panama Canal and after 44 days on the ocean they ported in Melbourne, Australia. His division combined with forces from New Caledonia creating the first ever “Americal Division” with the signifying shoulder patch of “four white stars on a blue cross.” Dale spent the next two years fighting the Japanese throughout the South Pacific, the rest of the Solomon Islands and New Guinea and taking in casualties from “The Battle of Guadalcanal” and “The Battle of the Coral Sea.” In 1944 Dale transferred by way of a hospital ship to a San Francisco Based Hospital. Dale was discharged from the service in September of 1945 from Fort Carson, Colo. Dale was married to Ruth Jorgensen July 9, 1944, at Smith Center, Kan. Dale had worked as a rural route carrier of the U.S. Mail for four years. He then worked at various skilled labor trades throughout his lifetime. Dale enjoyed Husker football, reading, poetry and outdoor activities along with family and friends. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion of Burwell and VFW of Ord. Survivors include his wife, Ruth, of Ord; four sons and daughters-in-law, Clark and DyAnn Hoppes of North Loup, Tim and Teresa Hoppes, Morry and Dianne Hoppes, Cohen and Becki Hoppes, all of Lincoln; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cheryl and Larry Haste of Ord and Lisa and Barry Suelter of Fort Collins, Colo.; 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Loy Smith of Boelus. Dale was preceded in death by a son, Bob Hoppes; a grandson, Kelly Hoppes; three sisters, Ilva Schuyler, Lilas Rowse and Ohleen Swanson; and a brother, Willard Hoppes.

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