Dale Frank Ehmke

Dale F. Ehmke
Born: July 17, 1940
Died: August 2, 2011

Dale F. Ehmke passed away peacefully at Flagstaff Medical Center, surrounded by his family, on August 2, 2011. He was born to Ida Fritz (Ehmke) and Frank Ehmke. He was preceded in death by his parents Ida Fritz (Ehmke) and Frank Ehmke, stepfather Julius Fritz, brothers Donald Ehmke, Alan Fritz, and sister Joan Leith (Fritz).

He is survived by siblings Jerrold Fritz (Marliss), Wausau, Wisconsin; Phyllis Leith (James), Janesville, Wisconsin; Joyce Blaser (Fred), Janesville, Wisconsin; and Rosemary Benson, Wausau, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

Dale was raised on a farm and attributed his strong work ethic to his upbringing. He attended Wausau Sr. High School where he lettered in Baseball and gained a lifelong love of the sport. In high school he also played basketball and boxed. After graduation Dale entered the U.S. Army, where he attended the Finance School of the U.S. Army. After completing the finance course he was stationed in Vicenza, Italy from February 1959 to 1961 where he was the Chief of Military Pay and Auditing-SETAF. While stationed in Italy Dale pitched for the U.S. Army Baseball Team. It was very clear to all how much he loved that part of his army career.

After an honorable discharge Dale worked briefly for Buch Equipment prior to joining Graebel Companies in Wausau, Wisconsin. Beginning as a management trainee in 1964, Dale grew rapidly within the company through a variety of jobs to the position of Vice President of Operations, Administration and Accounting. In 1977 Dale began Ehmke Movers Inc. in Cincinnati. Through hard work and a series of key acquisitions, Ehmke Movers became the second largest Allied Van agent worldwide. In 1985 Dale was named Executive of the Year by the Cincinnati Institute for Small Enterprise. In 1986 the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce named him Entrepreneur of the Year and in 1992 Executive of the Year. Dale served on many business boards including Allied Van Lines, Illinois Movers and Warehouse Association, Wisconsin Movers and Warehouse Association, and many more.

After selling Ehmke movers to Berger Transfer and Storage in 2001 Dale bought a home in Sedona, Arizona. Dale made Sedona his full time residence in 2007.

Throughout his lifetime Dale was an avid sportsman. In addition to his love of baseball he was an avid tennis player and held a private pilot