Oren Dale Chrisler, Russell
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January 29, 1930 - June 13, 2023
Oren Dale Chrisler, 93, of Russell, KS, passed peacefully to be with our Lord, Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Wheatland Nursing Home in Russell, after a prolonged illness.
Dale was born January 29, 1930, at his home in Fairport, KS to George Oren and Hettie Belle (McConnell) Chrisler. Brother Duane Chrisler welcomed Dale home.
He attended Codell schools and graduated in 1947. He enjoyed football, basketball, softball, and woodshop. He attended Fort Hays State University for one year and participated with the rodeo team, bull and bronco riding.
He then joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Key West, FL on the USS Corporal submarine from 1948 through 1949.
Dale returned home and met the love of his life Frances Jean Van Eaton, a teacher from Russell, KS. They moved to Monument, KS where he helped build the elevators there, then on to Plainville, KS where he was a carpenter and built many of the homes still there. He became involved in the oilfield while there and transferred to Great Bend, KS and in 1960 to Russell, KS. In 1961 he opened up Dale's Pump & Supply. He loved the oilfield and for 20 years repaired pumps and helped in numerous other aspects of the oilfield.
He loved to hunt and fish, participating in the dog trials on Dr. Starkey’s ground and training the dogs. He took his family fishing and needless to say probably baited more hooks with worms than you can imagine for six kids. Just always saying keep the cane pole in the water till the bobber goes under.
He loved his wife and family more than life itself.
Always helping with recreation ball teams in the summer, playing bridge, fishing, helping Chris and Monte with Boy Scouts and the famous Pinewood Derby Races, and taking the boat to the lake. Mama's Mink was her name and would pull five at a time water skiing. He was the best of the best.
In the early 1980s he had the chance to fulfill the dream of his life, a horse ranch. Dale, Jean, and Angie moved to Oakley, KS and bought the Hilltop Haven Paint and Quarter Horse Ranch. He held many roping events, raised his horses, and had the time of his life. He also was involved again in the oilfield, sitting on wells, and finishing them. He trained many other men to follow in his footsteps until the age of 90 when he semi-retired. Dale sold the ranch and retired to Oakley, until moving to Russell at Wheatland Nursing home in January of 2022. Some of his kids’ best memories of growing up were Sunday mornings coming home from church and the house smelled of homemade chocolate cake made by Dale, always barbecuing in the backyard, and Sunday nights curling the girls’ hair with sponge curlers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oren and Hettie Belle Chrisler, Codell, KS; brother Duane and sister-in-law Pat Chrisler of Winfield, KS; and daughter-in-law Carma Geibler Chrisler of Hays.
He leaves behind wife of 71 years, Jean Chrisler, Russell; seven children, Regina Chrisler, Russell, Glenna (Ronald) Letsch, of Luray, Chris Chrisler, Hays, Janelda Jo Manning (Eddie), of Oakley, Tina Hekele (Joseph), Odin, Ks, Monte Chrisler, Oakley and Angela Chrisler of Oakley; 10 grandchildren, Stacey Dumler (CJ), Mike Chrisler (Katie), Joseph Hekele (Traci), Jennifer Love (Michael), Julie Letsch, Beau Hekele (Char), Jenna Kelman (Matthew), Brady Chrisler (Lucas), Brett Chrisler (Sam), and Bailee Chrisler; great-grandchildren Javon Letsch, Brooklyn, Aiden and Lynden Hekele, Drew, Colin and Daxton Hekele, Brecken and Kash Kelman, Riley, Jethro, Thomas and Zane Chrisler.
Cremation has been chosen and services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley, KS. Inurnment will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Oakley.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Activity Fund at Wheatland Nursing Center, 320 S Lincoln St., Russell, KS 67665.
For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com.