Dale L. Nitzel

Dr. Dale Nitzel, 90, went home to be with the Lord on October 21, 2024. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 26 at the Evangelical Free Church in Hastings, with a private burial to follow. Visitation will be 1-7 pm. with family present 5-7 p.m. Friday, October 25, at the funeral home, and one hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be given to Crossroads, American Red Cross, The Special Olympics, or Mary Lanning. 

Dale, son of Lloyd and Lillian Nitzel, was born near Archer, Nebraska on May 21, 1934, graduating from Central City High School in 1951 followed by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1955. A pilot, Dale was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the US Air Force in 1956. 

Dale married Wauneta Ramsey of Shelton, Nebraska in 1958. He graduated in 1964 from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and went on to practice as an Internal Medicine physician in Hastings for 30 years.

Dale and Wauneta were blessed with 4 children: Scott, Grant, Carmen and Greg, along with seventeen grandchildren. 

As Wauneta’s health has declined, he faithfully and lovingly joined her each day for lunch and dinner at The Kensington up until the day he passed.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Wauneta Rae Nitzel, and his children and their families: Scott Nitzel and his wife Merideth, Grant Nitzel and his wife Deb, Carmen Kennedy and her husband Bryan, and Greg Nitzel and his wife Jen, along with seventeen grandchildren – Kai, Seth, and Liz Nitzel; Laurel Stoncius, Bethany, Hudson, Ramsey, Jonny, Gracee, Beric, Berin Nitzel and Holly Essink; Rachel and Drew Kennedy and Nicole Hunka; Audrey Hartwell and Calvin Nitzel.