Obit Final Draft

Nathan Kragh
Obituary Draft
2-7-05


He graced life’s stage with stoic determination, for whatever the task was, to get the job done and get it done right. He built and created, was a loving father and devoted husband.

Dale went peacefully in his sleep due to complications with blood clots in his lungs, something he had been battling for the past few years.

Dale was the second child born to Guy and Lois Kragh on June 30, 1950, in Athens, Wis. Soon after his birth his family moved to Manawa, Wis., where he was raised. Dale spent his summers working odd jobs his father found for him with relatives and friends of the family, most of which included farm work and basic mechanical maintenance. The jobs that entailed the mechanical work sparked what would become a lifelong love of construction with his hands.

After finishing high school he enlisted into the Navy during the Vietnam War. While enlisted, Dale worked maintaining the ship’s engines. He was very proud accomplishing a goal of his, to see the world. He traveled to China, Japan and the Philippines, and of course, Vietnam. The Philippines had especially grabbed his interest and had the most profound affect on him. He would later come back to tell stories to his children about the poor conditions people lived under and how lucky he and his children were to be living in America.

Dale finished his tour of duty in the Navy in Hawaii, spending the last month on the sandy beaches of the isled state. From Hawaii he traveled back to Wisconsin and back to Manawa. He enrolled himself in drafting classes at the Fox Valley Technical College.

Three short years later and with drafting skills in hand, he applied at the Waupaca Foundry to earn some money. During that time he met his first wife, Debra Madison. The union gave birth to his first son Eric and the building of a house outside of Waupaca, a house in which he did most of the building. He crafted the garage and dry walled, nailed together a back porch and built a swing set for his son. Two years later would bring his second son, Nathan.

His years of working the graveyard shift at the Foundry spawned a great opportunity. Dale received a job in the research and development department, where he made best use of his drafting skills. He worked 12-hour days for almost 20 years and designed various tools and machines to help the Foundry run efficiently.

Dale also spent a large amount of his free time doing anything outdoors. “Whether he was building or welding something, or fishing with his sons, he relished every minute of it,” said Jim Nusz, friend of the family.


With his sons and friends he took yearly trips in the summer to the rugged forests of Ontario to camp, fish for Walleye and hunt for bear. In the winter he hunted White-tailed deer.

He fancied himself a good cook, though he had no formal training. Dale approached cooking like a mad scientist, wildly mixing spices. He preferred cooking with moose or caribou meat for his latest concoctions. “He never did make the same pot of chili twice,” remarked his son Eric.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Shepard of the Lakes Lutheran Church. Pastor Dean Wheeler will officiate. Burial will be at Shadow Lake Cemetery in Waupaca following the service.

After his divorce to his first wife he remarried many years later to Bette Rasmussen. He is survived by his two sons and wife.