Dale E. German

Dale E. German, 56 of Greeley, devoted husband and father died Wednesday, January 26th, 2011.  Born in Lexington, Nebraska on August 17th, 1954. He was the son of Phyllis Burke and the late Arnold German.  Mr. German lived in Greeley nearly thirty-one years with his wife and children after having also lived in Ovid, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Otis Colorado with his family.

Dale was a miner in the Black Cloud Mine in Leadville from 1972-1979.  It was in 1979 that he was first diagnosed with sarcoidosis which took him from the mining job he loved.  Dale was a heavy equipment operator/crane operator from 1979-1987 working on many construction projects in the Denver and surrounding area including laying the Italian marble slabs in the the high-rise that surrounds the Holy Ghost Church in Denver.  During this time Dale also went to school working towards a Bachelor's Degree.  He graduated from UNC with a degree in education, and a teaching certification in 1987.  He taught science at Highland Middle School for one semester before the sarcoidosis that took him from mining took him from teaching.

Dale was a very skilled artist.  He enjoyed painting, calligraphy, drawing, wood work, and designing cakes.  He made the cakes for both his daughters' weddings, his mother and father in law's 50th anniversary, many of his and his wife's anniversaries, and numerous graduations and birthdays. He loved fishing, hunting, poker, and being with his family.

Dale is survived by his wife of thirty-six and a half years, Carolyn German, sons Steven German and Robert German, daughters Amber German and Dawn Christensen, sons-in-law Harlan Colburn and Mark Christensen, grandson Aidan German Colburn, granddaughter Sara Rose Christensen, mother Phyllis Burke, step father Robert Burke, mother-in-law Martha Thomas, father-in-law James Thomas, brothers Dave German and Scott Burke, sisters Ginger Freemeyer and Nellie Lott, sisters-in-law Ella German, Karen Burke, and Julie Thomas, brothers-in-law Robert Marks, Andi Lott, and Alan Thomas, and many nieces and nephews.  Services will be held at Bullock Mortuary on Saturday February 5th at 10:00am.