Fidelis “Dale” Ott

Tuesday, October 3, 2017 5:17 pm

Fidelis “Dale” Ott, 97, of Festina, died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, at his home with his loving family by his side. Mass of Christian Burial was at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina, with Rev. Robert Gross officiating. Organist was Jeanette Dietzenbach. Soloist was Danielle Dotzenrod. Our Lady of Seven Dolors Choir also sang. Hymns were “Here I am, Lord,” “Amazing Grace,” “On Eagles Wings” and “How Great Thou Art.” Lector was Pat Tekippe. Offertory gift bearers were Dale’s granddaughters. Eucharistic ministers were Elaine Heying, Pat Tekippe and Ken Ehler. Casket bearers were Aaron Whaley, Chad Humpal, Jeremy Humpal, Geoff Ott, Dalton Bruess and Roger Ott. Honorary casket bearers were Dale’s grand- and great-grandchildren. Interment was at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Cemetery, in Festina. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah.

Fidelis Joseph Ott was born April 5, 1920, to Baptist “Bob” and Helena (Hackman) Ott in rural St. Lucas. Dale attended St. Lukes Catholic School in St. Lucas. After graduation, he began to work on local farms milking cows by hand for 50 cents a day plus room and board. Dale married the love of his life, Helen Caroline Einck, Feb. 20, 1946, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina. They rented a farm near Waucoma for five years before buying the Einck family home place in rural Festina. Together they raised their family, farmed side by side, and had a dairy until his retirement in 1982. Dale was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Seven Dolors and a Forester for over 50 years.

Dale loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing, playing euchre and collecting rocks and arrowheads. Dale was never afraid to tackle any repair job, including his own mending, and could fix anything with a soldering iron and a piece of twine. Dale loved to garden and his summers were spent picking blackcaps, canning bread and butter pickles, fermenting sauerkraut under the hostas, and cracking hickory nuts and walnuts from his yard. He never learned to complain. Dale touched many lives in the community with his kind spirit by giving away German Pink tomatoes, seeds and flowers from his garden.

Dale is survived by his three children: Robert (Linda) Ott, Diane Ott Whealy and Kathy (Dave) Humpal; 11 grandchildren: Geoff Ott (Sommer Ueda), Jennifer (Ryan) Niemeyer, Aaron (Becky) Whaley, Amy Whealy, Tracy (Adam) Miller, Carrie (Ryan Heryford) Whealy, Jessica (Patrick O’Connor) Whealy, Chad (Amanda) Humpal, Jeremy (Cali) Humpal, Jamie (Michael) Mershon, Megan (Dalton) Bruess; 17 great-grandchildren: Evan, Claire and Kathryn Niemeyer; Jack, Owen and Grant Whaley; Solomon and Vera Miller; Landon, Kennedy and Levi Humpal; Gracyn and Jaxton Humpal; Hadley and Willa Mershon; Rowan and Henry Bruess; one sister, Hermina Koudelka; sister-in-law, Bernice Einck.

Dale was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, in 1996; brothers: Roman (Philomena), Leo (Catherine), Oscar (Thecla), Paul, Herbert (Rita). Sisters: Leona (Leonard) Barloon, Hilda (Victor) Bullerman and Agnes in infancy; brothers-in-law: Louis Koudelka, Edwin (Irene) Einck, Herbert (Freda) Einck, Jerome (Rita) Einck, Leander (Adella) Einck, Leo Einck, Leroy (Deanna) Einck, Lorraine (Hugo) Schrandt and Rose (Loren) Nathem; and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the Winneshiek County Public Health, St. Croix Hospice Care and the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home for their care and support before and after Dale’s death.

Dale’s simple outlook on life was an inspiration to us all. He will truly be missed.