Dale R. Stuemke (73) of Altamont

Dale R. Stuemke, 73 of Altamont, died at 9:28 a.m. Thursday, August 31, 2023 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Altamont with Rev. Dr. James F. Wright officiating. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Altamont. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church or the donor’s choice.

Dale Roger Stuemke was born on February 18, 1950 in Vandalia to Clarence and Lorna (Voelker) Stuemke. He married Marjorie Kay Eckel on September 7, 1968 at Immanuel Lutheran School and she preceded him in death on September 11, 2017, after 49 years of marriage. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. He retired from Effingham Equity. It could be said that Dale lived by the adage that if it was worth having it was worth making yourself. At the age of 19, Dale and his young wife purchased 10 acres of woods comprised of two hills and a ravine between them. Hour by hour, day by day, Dale cleared those hills with a chainsaw and a tractor, and the ravine was leveled into a driveway. 5 years later he and his young wife Marjorie, moved onto that land with 5-year-old Amy, and 1- year-old Penny. They raised their girls there, and Dale never stopped working on the property he was so proud of. He built building after building, including a very solid A-frame playhouse for the daughters that were the apples of their daddy’s eye. Dale was constantly dreaming of ways to improve their property, and would work many nights after work under the glare of floodlights as there literally wasn’t enough hours of daylight to do what he wanted to get done for his family. When you pulled up that driveway to the top of the hill and just looked around; whatever you saw, Dale made it. Dale was an absolute artist with metal and wood. His creations were practical pieces, but they were art nonetheless. With his drill press, torch, welder, and metal lathe, Dale could make anything. He had the rare ability to see a need for something, picture it in his mind, and build it. True talent that was a blessing from God, and his family reaped the benefits. From an early age Dale fell in love with tractors. With his family in tow, along with some close friends, the summer tractor pull circuit was his getaway. He kicked off each season in February with a trip, along with his buddies, to Louisville and the Farm Machinery Show. This love of tractors, and appreciation for antique farm equipment, took him all over Illinois and Indiana to antique tractor shows. It was truly his passion and his face lit up telling folks about those machines of old. If heaven has an assortment of old tractors, Dale is grinning from ear to ear!

He is survived by: his daughters, Amy (Bryan) Danks of Robinson and Penny (Charlie) Miller of Altamont and proud grandpa to Clayton and Zachary Danks and Jacob and Caden Miller; brother, Howard (Cyndie) Stuemke of Effingham, and nephew Michael Stuemke of Denver, CO.

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