Dalwyn D. “Dal” Schelhaas, 80, Kenneth, died Friday, April 15, 2016, at the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton.
A funeral service was Tuesday, April 19, at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. Burial followed in the Leota Community Cemetery.
Dalwyn Schelhaas was born Feb. 3, 1936, to Peter and Cornelia (Gilman) Schelhaas in a farmhouse in rural Pipestone County. He attended country school and the Leota Christian School. He graduated from Southwest Christian High School.
Dal married Joyce Vis on Sept. 20, 1956, at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. The couple lived in Edgerton where Dal worked at the Edgerton Creamery and the post office. In 1962 they moved to Kenneth. Dal then began working at the Kenneth State Bank as a loan officer and insurance salesman. Dal and his friend Don Van Nieuwenhuizen helped each other build their houses in 1968 after working all day at the bank. In 1981 Dal helped start the Leota Branch Bank. After his retirement in 1998, he worked part time for Reading Bus Lines and Pipestone Livestock Auction.
Dal and Joyce enjoyed wintering in Texas for the next five years. After Dal developed Alzheimer’s, Joyce lovingly cared for him until he entered the Edgebrook Care Center on Oct. 30, 2015.
Dal was a faithful member of Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. He served on numerous boards, most often as treasurer. He served on the Kenneth Volunteer Fire Department and also on the Kenneth Town Council and worked for many improvements for the city of Kenneth. Dal had a heart for the farmers and the people he served. He was a generous giver to many charitable causes. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, gardening, fixing and tinkering, cars, playing Quiddler at the Kenneth Coffee Shop, feeding the birds and squirrels and helping his son-in-law on the farm. One of Dal’s favorite things for summer family vacation was riding bike and staying at the Shetek Lodge.
Dal is survived by his wife, Joyce Schelhaas, Kenneth; four children, Ava (Ron) Christians, Kenneth; Kirk (Karmen) Schelhaas, Worthington; Kristi Knutson, Magnolia; and Jay (Lisa) Schelhaas, Pella, Iowa; thirteen grandchildren, Marty (Beth), Lee (Dawn), Jordan (MacKenzie), Kyle (Karli), Kayla, Kaleb, Blair, Brooks (Kelsey), Klint, Alexis, Jasmin (fiancé Caleb), Jackson and Levi; six great-grandchildren, Madison, Reese, Liam, Karis, Brooklyn and Kennedy; a brother, Bert Schelhaas, Leota; and four sisters, Mary (Howard) Van Essen, Edgerton; Jean (Milt) Schaap, Edgerton; Marcia (Dwayne) Bruns, Denver, Colorado; and Ruth (Myron) Spronk, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Beth; and a sister-in-law, Marie Schelhaas.
Arrangements were by the Leota Burial Association and Dingmann Funeral Home, dingmannandsons.com.
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