Richard (Dick) Dalbke of Arlington Heights peacefully passed away on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at Church Creek Skilled Nursing Care. He was born on July 5, 1922 in Chicago to Roy and Martha Dalbke. After graduating from Schurz High School in January, 1940, Dick attended Wright Junior College in Chicago and Shepherd College in West Virginia. His education was interrupted by World War II. Dick enlisted in the Army in the beginning of 1943, and was wounded in combat in November, 1944. He received a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Combat Infantryman Badge, and was honorably discharged from the Army on January 17, 1946.
After the war, Dick attended Purdue University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1947. In his later years, Dick was very active in the Purdue Alumni Association, the Purdue President’s Council, and in many fundraising events for new building projects and scholarships.
On January 17, 1947, while still a student at Purdue, Dick decided to go dancing at the Aragon Ballroom where he met the love of his life, Leverne Calland. They married on January 17, 1948 at Saint Timothy Lutheran Church, and became residents of Arlington Heights in 1951.
Dick worked in Chicago for many years before founding his own consulting firm, Admiral Environmental Services of Mt. Prospect in 1971, a company providing consulting and engineering services in the industrial water and wastewater fields. During his career, Dick wrote many articles and publications relating to industrial water and he served in many industry associations. He sold his company in 1990.
During retirement, Dick pursued his hobby of drawing in pencil and painting in acrylics. He was able to devote more time to his family, volunteer in schools and at Saint Mark Lutheran Church where he was active for over 50 years serving in various areas including adult social programs and teaching Sunday school. Dick especially enjoyed visiting the church’s shut-ins and giving them communion.
Dick is survived by his wife of 70 years, Leverne; his children Gary (Marge) Dalbke and Carol (Price) Jackson; his grandchildren Kris (Tom) Cozzi, Megan (Jake) Guffey, Eric (Jennifer) Jackson, and Lauren Jackson; great grandchildren Connor and Cayden Menneke, Grace and Griffen Guffey, and Nolan Jackson; nephew Matthew (Jaime) Dalbke and great nephew Rick (Christine) Willis.
A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM at Saint Mark Lutheran Church, 200 S. Wille Street, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056.
Interment will be at Ridgewood Cemetery in Des Plaines.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to Saint Mark Lutheran Church in memory of Dick will be much appreciated