Dale L. Simonette, age 90, of Chanhassen, died peacefully on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis. Dale was born on July 9, 1935, in Montgomery, to Leonard and Elsie (Polak) Simonette. He graduated from Montgomery High School and entered the US Navy, serving from 1953 – 56. After his service, he was delivering a car to Harley Meyer and driving up the driveway, noticed Harley's daughter, Eileen, sitting on the porch eating an apple. He was immediately smitten! It was the start of a lifetime love affair and the two married on October 5, 1959, at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lanesburgh. Dale spent his career as a heavy-duty tow truck driver and was a member of the Teamsters Union.
Dale was definitely a people-person, readily engaging in conversation with anyone he met. He thrived during the times spent with his grandchildren and enjoyed fishing, especially anywhere with his son, Paul. A good game of Euchre and garage-saling filled other leisure activities. While Eileen was still alive, they enjoyed trips to Bayfield, WI, and many happy winters in Rockport, TX. After Eileen's untimely death from ALS, Dale remained the hopeless flirt, even up to the end with a month-long stay at the VA Hospital when he engaged the nurses in conversations as to where all the best bakeries were! His optimism, his sense of fun, and his love of people will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Dale is survived by his children, Patricia Simonette, Paul T. (Kelly) Simonette, John M. (Patti) Simonette; grandchildren, Tyler (Kelly) Payne, Libby (Ian) Foster, Nina Simonette, James "Jamie" Simonette, Nicholas (Emily) Simonette, Sara Simonette, Johnny (Sami) Simonette; great-granddaughter, Blake Kalisch; brother, Keith Simonette; sisters-in-law, Ellen Giles & Lavina Hasher; brother-in-law, Harry Parker. He is preceded in death by his wife, Eileen, on April 28, 2015; parents; siblings, Audrey, Wayne, David, Sharon, Lana & June.
Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lanesburgh, MN (28983 181st Ave., New Prague, MN) with Pastor Henry Koch officiating. Visitation will take place at church starting at 10:00 AM. Burial will occur in the church cemetery followed by lunch in the church social hall.
