Dale Robert Tinkham, age 76, of Oakdale, MN, passed away on October 2, 2017 at home in the loving arms of his family.
Dale was born on January 14, 1941 in St. Paul, MN to Dale Tinkham Sr. and Evelyn Franzen. He grew up on the east side of St. Paul with Edward and Jessie Dean.
Dale attended Sibley Grade School and graduated from Harding High School. Growing up, Dale spent many hours at Margaret Playground playing hockey, football and basketball. He also was known to spend a lot of time at Sacred Heart Church and the North St. Paul roller skating rinks where he was a skate guard and played roller hockey.
In October, 1970, Dale married Pat Flaherty. They were married for 47 years. He worked as a sales representative for Kimball Midwest for many years before retiring in January, 2017. Dale enjoyed golfing, fishing, bowling and playing softball. Later in life, watching football and hockey games and countless episodes of NCIS provided hours and hours of entertainment. More than anything else, however, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Friends remember him as one of the kindest, silliest men they had ever met.
Dale’s battle with cancer began in January of 2014. Throughout the years of tests, scans and treatments, he fought bravely, without complaint. Doctors were consistently dumbfounded by his abilities to defy cancer. As of the last scan in June, he had completely beaten the lung cancer and was in remission for over a year. Although he won, his body was tired and the radiation treatments had done too much damage. He truly was a warrior, our hero.
Dale is survived by his wife Pat, children Mike (Sharon), Rob Thiry (Krista) and Jill Chang (Tom); grandchildren Holly Tinkham, Kristy Norton (Jeff), Mackenzie, Alexis and Brooke Thiry and Sami and Kenzie Chang; great-grandchildren Isle and Arlo Norton. Also survived by siblings, Phyllis Dean, Judy Tompkins (Dick), Barb Wegscheider (Rick), Dennis Tinkham (Sallie), Joe Schulte (Anita), Kathy Bartholomew (Gary) and Lynda Koleber, sister-in-law, Karen Tinkham and brother-in-law, Dennis Flaherty (Jan), along with many nieces, nephews and loving friends.
A special thank you to the wonderful staff at St. John’s Cancer Center, Dr. Nambudiri, Dr. McBride, Dr. Cameron and the staff at Healtheast Hospice. Together, we fought hard and took care of our warrior patient right up to his last breath.
Dale is at peace. No doubt, he is somewhere drinking a Diet Coke, listening to 50’s music, singing . . .smiling.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday (10/10) 10:30 AM at CHURCH OF ST. PASCAL BAYLON, E. 3rd St. & White Bear Ave. (use Flandreau Ave. Entrance), St. Paul, with visitation one hour prior to Mass. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Special thank you to the staff at St. John's Cancer Center & HealthEast Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred.