Dale E. Sunderman, age 77, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 25, 2023. He passed away surrounded by his loved ones at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE. Dale was a faithful man who loved His Lord, his family, church, and community. Dale was born on December 24, 1945, the son of Orval D. and Clara L. (Sothman) Sunderman. Dale grew up on a farm south of Lyman, IA, with his 4 siblings. He attended Noble Center Country School and later Griswold High School in Griswold, IA. Dale graduated Valedictorian Class of 1964. He then attended Westmar College, LeMars, IA, and graduated in 1968 with a bachelor’s in arts in Mathematics and Christian Education.
Dale enlisted in the Air Force in April 1968 and studied at Delaware State College in Dover, DL. He was Honorably Discharged in April 1972 with the rank of Sgt. He studied at Kearney State College (now University of NE, Kearney) and then at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (now Trinity University) in Deerfield, IL. He was the Hub Circulation Manager of the Kearney Daily Hub in Kearney, NE, then moved back to Griswold, IA. and began working as Assistant to the Cass County Auditor and Information Technology for Cass County under County Auditor Dale King.
Dale married Sheryl A Chantry on December 1, 1978, at St John’s United Church of Christ, Lyman, IA. Dale was Cass County Auditor from 1984-2022. During that time, he watched and worked through many challenges, the beginning of computers using DOS, and writing many of the original programs for the county himself. He kept the county progressing forward. He was an anchor to the community and highly respected across the state. The exacting Mathematician showed up in everything he did. Dale touched many lives. He felt his life was blessed by the people in it. Dale enjoyed being with his family, making people laugh, sharing scripture, and helping others learn. Dale also was active as Cub Master, Cub Scout Den Leader, Secondary Education Substitute teacher for Atlantic High School, Atlantic Swim Team Organizer, Little League Coach, United Methodist Lay Leader-ministering in many of the SW IA churches, lead Bible Studies, was an audio/visual tech for the UMC, ISACA, SW IA Co Officer’s Association-Sec/Tr several years President.
Preceding him in death were his parents: Orval and Clara Sunderman; Parents-In-Law: Jim & Mary Ann (Busch) Chantry; and Brother-In-Law: James Waters.
Those left to cherish his memories are: his wife, Sheryl (Chantry) Sunderman, Sons: Anthony (Crystal) Sunderman of Atlantic, Timothy (Julie) Sunderman of Elkhorn, NE, Grandchildren: Corey (Jayme) Sunderman Atlantic, Lance Corporal Devlyne Sunderman Camp Pendleton, CA, Nolan Sunderman Atlantic; Madison Sunderman, Aiden Sunderman, and William Sunderman of Elkhorn, NE; Great Granddaughters: Snow Sunderman, Annika Roberts of Atlantic, and Emerys Archer of Malvern, IA; Brothers: Kenneth (Sharon) Sunderman Bella Vista, AR; Colonel (Ret) DeWayne ‘Bud’ Sunderman Colorado Springs, CO; Barbara Waters Cumberland, IA; David Sunderman Bentonville, AR; Brothers-In-Law: Michael Chantry Placerville, CA; Master Sgt (Ret) Steven (Patricia) Chantry Frederica, DE; Roger (Peg) Chantry, York, NE; Sisters-In-Law: Carla (Mark) Lyons Iowa City, IA; Lisa (Doug) Gard Denton, NE; many other nieces/nephews, family members, and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 11:30 am at the First United Methodist Church, Atlantic, IA, with a visitation starting at 9:30 until the time of the service. A luncheon will be held following the service in the Fellowship Hall. The family asks everyone to please wear the color blue in memory of Dale’s favorite color. Interment will be held at a later date in the Atlantic Cemetery. The service at the church will be live-streamed and recorded, and available on the funeral home website.
Memorials may be directed to the family and to be designed at a later time or to the First United Methodist Church, Atlantic, IA. The Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa, is caring for Dale and his family, and condolences can be sent at: schmidtfamilyfh.com
