Dale “Sparky” Dornbusch

Dale “Sparky” Dornbusch, age 80, of Milbank, SD,  passed away on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at St. William’s Care Center in Milbank.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 29, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank with a prayer vigil beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Friday. Fr. Gary DeRouchey will celebrate the Mass and interment will be at St. Lawrence Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded. It will be viewable below this obituary.

Casket bearers will be: Zach Cramer, Deven Weinkauf, Tim Zubke, Mark Lee, Mark Mueller, and Derrick Thiele. Honorary bearers will be the Staff of St. William’s Care Center and Dale’s two great-grandchildren: Alita Weinkauf and Mason Nemmers.

Dale Ralph Dornbusch was born on August 16, 1941, in Milbank, SD.  He was the son of Ralph T. and Alice (Wagner) Dornbusch. Dale grew up in Milbank and graduated from Milbank High School with the Class of 1960. He served in the United States Army, enlisting on October 21, 1960, and was honorably discharged on April 20, 1961. He was released to the Army National Guard of South Dakota and was a member of the 740th Transportation Company. He served for five years and was discharged on June 3, 1966. From his military service, Dale was lovingly given the nickname of “Sergeant Sparky” and was shortened to “Sparky” which has lasted his lifetime.

Dale was united in marriage with Lila Jean Whiting on November 20, 1965, in Milbank. They were blessed with four children: Keri, Conni, Kevin, and Kenneth. Dale farmed northeast of Milbank. He worked hard on the farm, providing for his family. Every year he provided a bottle calf for each of his granddaughters and planted and raised sweet corn for the family to pick and sell. Dale enjoyed attending auction sales to buy and sell farm equipment.

 He knew how to balance his hard work with a break from the farm to fish or ride motorcycles. He and Lila enjoyed traveling with friends to places like LasVegas, Hawaii, and Mexico.  After Lila passed, Dale and his lifelong friend, Judy, were “winter Texans.” They extended their time in Texas every year, staying just a little longer. Dale loved his motorcycles! He was a proud owner of a Harley Davidson and an Indian. He did his very best to attend the Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD, every summer.

Dale “Sparky” Dornbusch is survived by his children: Keri (Alan) Schliesman of Milbank, SD; and Kevin (Renae) Dornbusch of Milbank, SD; four granddaughters: Sarah (Mark) Nemmers; Megan (Devon) Halajian; Jessica (Deven) Weinkauf, and Emily Dornbusch (Zach Cramer); two great-grandchildren: Alita Weinkauf and Mason Nemmers (born on the day that Dale passed away); two brothers: Neil (Joy) Dornbusch of Austin, TX; Keith Dornbusch of Milbank, SD; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Mary Ellen Dornbusch of Oregon; Luci Whiting of Milbank, SD; Luella Laskowski of Milbank, SD; Loretta (Myron) Maass of Watertown, SD; Dennis Unzicker of Milbank, SD; Linda (Gary) Rethke of Milbank, SD; Roger (Sandy) Whiting of Iowa; Mary Jo Whiting of Milbank, SD; and Sandi Whiting of Oklahoma.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents: Ralph and Alice Dornbusch; his wife, Lila; two children: Kenneth and Conni; one granddaughter, Katie Schliesman; one brother, David Dornbusch; one sister, Jean Koutscky; one sister-in-law , Lois Unzicker; three brothers-in-law:  Delmer Laskowski, Roy Whiting, and Ralph Whiting: and a dear friend, Judy Brotzel.