Dale L. Fenske, 76, of Fremont passed away Monday, February 19, 2024, at Methodist Fremont Health. He was born on Sept. 21, 1947 in West Point, NE to Lyle W. and Dorothy (Wickert) Fenske.
He graduated from West Point High School in 1965 and immediately entered the U.S. Navy. Master Chief Fenske served full tours on eight different ships that included seaplane tenders, destroyers, aircraft carriers, amphibious and auxiliary replenishers. Vessels served, USS Currituck (AV7), USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DD-713), USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), USS Tulare (LKA-112), USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3), USS Wabash (AOR-5), USS Mount Hood (AE-29) and the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). Shore commands included commissary stores Region, Repair activities and Staff at Service Group One. He was awarded sixteen various medals and ribbons, many of them multiple times. Campaigns serviced were Vietnam, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm.
Dale married Donna M. Strehle on June 14, 1969 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point.
Dale was a member of the American Legion Post No. 70 at West Point, AMVETS, Commander & Quartermaster of the Larson Peterson VFW Post No. 854 in Fremont and former Captain of the Fremont Honor Guard for 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his father, son-in-law, James Thigpen, mother and father-in-law, Thomas and Lila Strehle, sister-in-law, Joanne Rice; and brother-in-law, Gary Mumma.
Dale is survived by his wife, Donna Fenske of Fremont; daughters, Kari Thigpen of Bennington, Stephanie (Ron) Melanson of San Diego, California, Melanie Fenske & Dan of Fort Mohave, Arizona, and Ange (Eugene) Michonski of San Diego; mother Dorothy Fenske; brother, Lyle Fenske; sisters Dianna Kassebaum and Kathy (Roger) Kaup all of Fremont; six grandchildren, Courtney (Alex) Parsons, Natalie Thigpen, Savannah (Cole) Pendleton, Alaina (Brook) Svoboda, Rachel (Chase) Viter and Thomas Michonski and four great-grandchildren, Daxton Parsons, Lila Pendleton, Lincoln Pendleton, and Wren Svoboda.
Private Celebration of life service will be at Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont followed by full military honors. Interment will be at Omaha National Cemetery in Omaha.
Memorials are suggested to the family for a future designation. Online condolences may be left at www.mosermemorialchapels.com.
