Dale C. Ernst, 75, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, August 26th, 2025.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29th, 2025 at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, with a funeral service and military honors to be held at 7:00 p.m.

Dale was born May 21, 1950, in Bellevue, IA, the son of Carl and Olivia (Ambrosy) Ernst. He graduated from Marquette High School in 1968. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1973. He completed his apprenticeship to become a licensed electrician and worked many years with Kinsella Electric and was a proud, active IBEW member.

He married Carla Noel on September 28, 1974, at Nativity Church in Dubuque. They have three daughters, Dawn (Joe) Sabin, Lynn (Nathan) Kidwell, and Laura (Ryan) Castelline. They have eight grandchildren: Jonathan, Michael, Brenden, Hunter, Daniel, Adam, Lucy, and Alice.

Dale loved his family and enjoyed playing cards. He spent a lot of time mentoring his children and grandchildren on how to do everything from fixing the car, electrical work, fixing things around the house, finances, and living life well. He was a great supervisor.

Dale is survived by his wife; his children and grandchildren; his mother, Olivia (Ambrosy) Ernst; his siblings, Elaine (Bill) VanderMeulen, Diane (Len) Kotz, Steve (Gail) Ernst, and Carla Ernst; his brothers-in-law, Dave Noel, Gary (Kathy) Noel, and Mike (Lisa) Noel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Carl Ernst; Carla’s parents, Alice (Rahe) and Carl Noel; his brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Carol Ernst; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Janet Noel; and his nephews, Billy VanderMeulen and Chris Noel.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators – MBR-Zapotec TdV Translation Project (ID: M803406) in Dale’s memory. This will help provide Scripture in Zapotec for the area where Lynn and Nathan work and where they lived for the last five years.

Dale’s deep love, quick laugh, and kindness to all will forever live in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be deeply missed.