Dale Emanuel Sherk (1932–2026)

Dale Emanuel Sherk, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away of natural causes on October 1, 2026, at his home in Sun City, Arizona, at the age of 94. He touched many lives with his wisdom, humor, and loving spirit.

Dale was born on the evening of June 30, 1932, in Fargo, North Dakota, to the late Verna Beatrice and Ray David Sherk. The first of seven children, Dale spent his earliest days sleeping in a makeshift crib fashioned from a dresser drawer. Verna recalled waking from a sound sleep one night just in time to catch Dale by his ankle as he toppled over the edge of the crib. He slept through the entire experience without uttering a peep. Dale moved with his family to Vancouver, Washington, in 1943 and later to Tacoma in 1948.

As a youth, Dale was a Boy Scout and worked on a celery farm, at a pea-packing plant, and at Alco Aluminum. With $250 of his earnings from the pea-packing plant, he purchased a 1937 Ford Tudor. His first car, and his prized possession, was black with green fenders. Dale drove it off the lot without knowing how to drive or even having a driver’s license! His favorite job, however, was working at the end of a lane, manually setting pins at a local bowling alley in Vancouver, Washington.

A proud veteran, Dale enlisted in the United States Air Force and served his country from September 9, 1951, to August 26, 1955. During his service, he achieved the rank of buck sergeant. While sta­tioned in Frankfurt, Germany, he studied mechanics and became the crew chief for a B-29 aircraft. It was during his years in the Air Force that Dale discovered his passion for aeronautics and airplanes. He could identify most aircraft simply by hearing their engines as they soared overhead. After his dis­charge, Dale worked on the North American aircraft assembly line and later held positions with John­ny’s Seafood and Tutor Craft Drapes.

Dale found his true calling when he joined the Tacoma Fire Department on August 4, 1959. He loved the camaraderie of the fire service. Despite the rigorous training and difficult working conditions, his focus was always on helping others, a characteristic that carried into every aspect of his life. Through­out his career, he served at various firehouses across Tacoma, including time aboard the fireboat. He retained remarkably accurate memories of many major incidents he helped fight, including the 1963 Music Box Theatre fire on the day of his youngest child’s birth and the 1972 Baker Dock Warehouse fire. Over the course of his 32-year firefighting career, Dale rose through the ranks and retired as a battalion chief on March 24, 1991.

Dale met the love of his life, Dianne Colleen Schrag, in 1958. They were both employed at Johnny’s Seafood, working different shifts. What began with flirtatious honks exchanged between their pass­ing cars soon led to a date dancing at the Top of the Ocean Nightclub on December 31, 1958. Their courtship blossomed, and they married on February 21, 1959. The couple soon purchased their first home together at 1022 S. Shirley for $12,000, borrowing the final $75 needed for the down payment from Dianne’s father.

Dale and Dianne shared 49 years of marriage before Dianne passed away on December 8, 2005, following a long illness. Together, they raised three children to adulthood and celebrated their marriag­es: Joan Marie, David Allan, and Julie Marie. Dale’s devotion to Dianne never wavered. Through their love and commitment, they modeled the meaning of lifelong partnership for their children.

University Place, Washington, remained Dale’s primary residence until he purchased a second home in Arizona. A true snowbird, he traveled south each year to escape Washington’s colder months and enjoy the sunshine of Sun City. It was there, after the loss of Dianne, that he met Gail Ferren. Dale and Gail shared 20 years together until her passing on June 16, 2026, at the age of 91. Watching nesting hummingbirds, taking pontoon boat rides around the lake, hosting neighborhood parties, working on jigsaw puzzles, and tending to fruit trees were among their favorite Arizona pastimes. Dale felt blessed to have found two wonderful women with whom to share his life.

Dale had many interests throughout his life. He loved camping and hunting, making annual trips to Lake Chopaka in Eastern Washington. That lake was his heaven on earth spot. An avid boater and fisherman, he often caught fish in Puget Sound and prepared his famous Seattle salmon barbecue recipe using the day’s catch. In his later years, he took up golf and even scored a hole-in-one. His love of travel took him to destinations around the world. Highlights included visiting Machu Picchu, retracing the steps of his Air Force days in Germany, and traveling through the Panama Canal.

Dale also loved tending to his rose garden. He even installed electric fencing to protect his beautiful blooms from the neighborhood deer, who seemed to love them as much as he did. He enjoyed a good game of Mexican Train dominoes, playing cards, and marbles. Dale loved all kinds of music and was light on his feet, making a wonderful dance partner who made the jitterbug look easy. 

He was also a gifted storyteller who could captivate an audience with his memories, humor, and colorful accounts of life’s slightly exaggerated adventures. Entertaining came naturally to him. From Christmas parties with Santa in attendance to Easter egg hunts and ice cream socials, Dale loved having a house full of family and friends, sharing stories, laughter, and good times with those he loved.

Dale was gifted with tools and had a remarkable ability to work with his hands. He seemed to know how to fix just about anything. He took pride in servicing his own vehicles, as long as they were American-made! One of his greatest accomplishments was designing and building his own home in University Place despite having no prior construction experience. He often told the story of how he drove every nail by hand with precision, never once using a nail gun.

Dale was a member of University Place Presbyterian Church. A man of faith, he read the Bible often and found comfort and guidance in its teachings. His faith was an important part of his life and helped shape the kindness, compassion, and generosity he showed to others. He also supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the Salvation Army.

Above all, Dale loved his family and was incredibly proud of each of them. They had his whole heart, and he considered them among his greatest blessings.

He is survived by his sister, Barbara Grant; his brother, Keith Sherk; his children, Joan Cassaw (William), David Sherk (Obra), and Julie Ross (Patrick); his grandchildren, Jason Barry (Jenn), Melissa Rieksts, Krista Piehler (Josh), Christina Sherk, Phillip Cassaw (Shareen), Kylo Ross, and Treya Ross; and his great-grandchildren, Olivia Barry, Jakob Rieksts, Emma Barry, Jinaan AL-Sulaihim, and Raed AL-Sulaihim, Harper Piehler, and Camden Piehler.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Verna Beatrice Atkins and Ray David Sherk; his wife, Dianne Sherk; his brothers, Paul Sherk and Gary Sherk; his sisters, Jacqueline Jones and Yvonne Wilson; and his partner, Gail Ferren.

A grave side service is scheduled at New Tacoma Cemetery on November 6, 2026, at 3pm.