John Dale Dalbom

John Dale Dalbom, oldest son of Dale and Hazel Dalbom, was born in Wichita, Kansas at St Francis December 26th, 1943. He died at the Robert J. Dole Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital January 29th, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. John was the second of three children. He had one older sister, Deanna, and one younger brother, Tim. John was a hard-working realist who was also compassionate and generous. He loved his family and friends and being a Kansas farmer. In 1989, he bought his first piece of land while still in the Army in Germany. He farmed with his father, Dale, for several years, bringing new farming techniques, like no-till. John bought used equipment, including a pair of Gleaner L2s, and worked like an "ironman" to keep them running. He would go on to farm for more than 30 years, doing what he loved. All the while, he showed compassion to others and served as a leader for the American Legion and Memorial Day services. Around his hometown of Clearwater, he was a cherished friend, a welcome face at the Co-op, and known as "Colonel" at the C-bar Saloon.

In 1966, he graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Feeds Technology. While at K-State, he developed a lifelong love of chemistry. After college, he became an Army officer in the Ordinance Corps by completing Officer Candidate School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Virginia. John was always proud of his service in the Ordinance Corps. He would go on to serve at Fort Ord, CA before taking command of an ordinance company in Korea that maintained nuclear weapons. Due to John's capable leadership, his unit passed the rigorous ad hoc inspections required for nuclear missiles during the Vietnam era, a feat his predecessors could not accomplish.

Upon returning from South Korea, John was assigned to an Ordinance missile unit in Bitburg, Germany. After this assignment, he liked Germany so much that he accepted an additional assignment, to Ordnance Corps headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. While there, he was required to travel to Israel with replacement missile parts.

He would go on to serve at the Granite City Army Depot, where he worked for the Ordnance Corps Inspector General.

The next assignment was as an ROTC instructor at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Here he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In 1978 he earned an Master of Arts from Ball State University before moving his family to Mannheim, Germany, which would be one of the happiest times of his life. The Army offered him further postings, but he retired as Lieutenant Colonel to farm. Farming also allowed him to do what he loved, including taking rafting, skiing and fishing trips with friends like Gary Moden, his cousin Rick Stinson, his brother Tim, and others Highlights include whitewater rafting in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and salmon fishing in Alaska and Michigan.

The family would like to thank John’s "helpers" Lynn Love and Craig Wells who meant so much to John. He is survived by: Siblings, Deanna (Tom Prin) Weeks and Tim (Pam) Dalbom; Children: Julie Dalbom, Zachary (Shana) Dalbom, Eric (Melinda) Dalbom; and grandchildren Eli Dalbom, Stella Dalbom, and Jack Dalbom.

Donations may be made to PassageWays 2627 S Bennett Ave, Wichita, KS 67217 or Clearwater Food Bank c/o Clearwater Ministerial Alliance, PO Box 485, Clearwater. KS 67026.

Services will be held at the First Baptist Church 306 Ross Ave, Clearwater, KS at 10:30am Saturday, February 8, 2025.

Passageways
2627 S Bennett Ave, Wichita KS 67217

Clearwater Food Bank
c/o Clearwater Ministerial Alliance, PO Box 485, Clearwater KS 67026