Dale Mathis, beloved husband and father, departed this earth on February 1, 2021 to join our mother, Del Daehling Mathis, his brother, Ray Mathis, and his sister Eileen Kennedy in Heaven.

Dale was born on February 27, 1927 to Elmer Mathis and Elsie J. Brown Mathis in Greenwood, Nebraska.

He served as a paratrooper in World War II from 1943 to 1945, where he saw combat.  He was a First Sergeant in the 82 ^nd Airborne and a Pathfinder, an elite group of the 82 ^nd Airborne who were the first paratroopers to be dropped on Normandy to mark drop zones and landing zones for the airborne fighting companies which came after them.

After the war, Dale worked at Otis Elevator in the 1940's and Elgin Watch Company from 1946 to 1955.  It was while working at Elgin that he developed his love for timepieces, which he collected and repaired throughout his life.

He married Del on October 24, 1956 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Staplehurst, Nebraska.  They celebrated their 50 ^th wedding anniversary in 2006.

After he met Del, he attended the United States Border Patrol Academy. Dale had an almost 30-year career as a Border Patrol Agent, first in Texas, then New Mexico, then in Washington State, and, finally, Alpine, Texas where he chose to live for 53 years.  While in Alpine, he served on the City Council and as the Municipal Judge from 1982 to 1991.

Dale was well-known and respected in Alpine, where, in one way or another, he touched the lives of almost everyone in town.  In his later years, he drank coffee at the bank in Alpine with three generations of friends who got together daily to talk about politics and town news.  After his morning coffee, he made the rounds at the thrift stores, touching base with his fellow Alpinians and picking up treasures. He also enjoyed getting together with friends most afternoons to enjoy a cool beverage at his favorite watering hole.

He was self-made, tough as nails, a dearly-loved husband, father, and grandfather, and truly a member of The Greatest Generation.  He will be deeply missed.

Dale is preceded in death by his wife, Del, to whom he was married for 55 years, his parents, his parents-in-law Henry and Ella Daehling, his brother, Ray Mathis, his sister and brother-in-law, Eileen and Al Kennedy, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Daryl and Vivian Daehling. He is survived by his children, Diana Mathis, Dena Mathis and her husband Guy Clemens, Derek Mathis and his wife Suzy Mathis, grandchildren Blake Mathis, Blair Mathis, Jaden Clemens, and Brylee Mathis, great grandson Duke LaCaille, sister-in-law Marilyn Mathis, brother and sister-in-law Del and Sherry Daehling, many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins, and an army of people who called him a friend.

82 ^nd Airborne Rose, Ribbon and Wings funeral services and burial officiated by Pastor Shawn Kitzing will be held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Staplehurst, Nebraska at 2:00 p.m. on February 20, 2021. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be Blake Mathis, Jaden Clemens, Greg Kurtzer, Gordie Edmison, Matt Duchek, Jeremy Dawson, Larry Ruether, Russell Daehling, Jimmy Soukup, and Shawn Carr.

Online condolences can be made at zabkafuneralhome.com