Dale Springer
April 8, 1957 — December 12, 2017
Dale Walter “Dinger” Springer, age 60, of Cannon Falls died peacefully Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at his home in Leon Township.
Dale W. Springer was born on April 8th, 1957 at the hospital in Northfield, Minnesota, the first son of Walter and Ruth (Heine) Springer.
He was baptized at St John’s Lutheran Church of Rich Valley, Rosemount, MN and confirmed at St Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls, MN.
Dale graduated from Cannon Falls High School in 1975 and attended the University of Minnesota for two years studying electrical engineering. Diabetic since age 5, Dale developed vision problems and withdrew from the University. Dale took a loan out from his parents and bought a house, shop, and seven acres in the beautiful Sogn Valley. He was a self-employed auto mechanic for 38 years. Early on in his mechanic days he sponsored many aspiring dirt track stock car racers, but no one ever made it big.
Complications from diabetes slowed Dale down but he came back from two kidney transplants, a pancreas transplant, and bilateral below-knee amputations. Dale has taught Sunday School, has been on the church council, and sang in the choir at Urland Lutheran, just a few miles from his house. He was a role model for perseverance and determination to everyone who knew him. Blind since age 25, Dale taught himself to use other senses to solve mechanical problems and accomplish household tasks.
Dale was thankful to be able to live independently all these years with the help of many friends who daily stopped to check in on him or give him rides to the grocery store, and church every week. He had a very strong faith in God and always enjoyed attending weekly Bible classes. He felt blessed to have such a caring church family.
Survivors include his brother John (Holly) of St Peter, nieces and nephews Elisabeth, William, Marta, and Matthew. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Ruth.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 12:00 p.m., with visitation from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., at Urland Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls. Active pallbearers will be Babe O'Gorman, Tor Millard, Jared Miller, Jason Fehling, Kirk and Kory Kreisler. Honorary pallbearers will be Kelly and Kyle Kreisler. Spring interment will be at Urland Lutheran Cemetery.