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Dale D. Trowbridge, 71 of Tomah died Friday, September 7, 2007 at Tomah Memorial Hospital.
He was born December 19, 1935 to Rex and Evelyn (Quam) Trowbridge at Wyeville. He was
baptized at the church rectory in Shennington. He was united in marriage to Darlene Libke on
February 11, 1956 in Iowa. Dale joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed on the USS Boxer and
served during the end of the Korean War. While in the service, Dale was an amateur boxer. Dale
served as the Sheriff of Monroe County for 10 consecutive years from 1990 until his retirement
in 2000. He began his law enforcement career as one of 66 applicants for a full-time patrol officer
on the night shift, working 6 days a week with Mondays off. At that time, there were three radio
operators, three traffic officers, one relief man, and three police vehicles. The Sheriff’s
Department consisted of three men including the Sheriff. On June 26, 1966, he was appointed as
the Traffic Chief. He worked at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department for 43 years. He is a
member of the Monroe County Police Association, the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs
Association, the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association and the Wisconsin Police Association.
He was also appointed by Governor Anthony Earl as a member of the Governor’s Council of
Traffic Law Enforcement. He was a Wayne Truttman Award Recipient. Dale accompanied youths
of the School Safety Patrol Program to Washington DC for 25 years, and had the privilege of
placing a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. He
attended and was on the planning committee for approximately 25 years of the Wisconsin Dells
Safety Patrol Congress. He was awarded the Francis Eckerman Award for his long standing
support of youth safety programs. Dale was an Alderman representing the Third Aldermanic
District on the Tomah city council, he has also served as the chairman of the Council’s
Recreation Park Committee, and served on the Audit, Budget, and Finance Committee, and the
Lake Committee. He was an active bowler and was a league member for several years, He was a
sports enthusiast especially when it came to watching horseracing and playing softball. He was an
avid outdoorsman and deer hunter, and enjoyed motorcycle riding. He was a faithful member of
St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Tomah
DALE TROWBRIDGE, 71, TOMAH
Died Friday, September 7th, 2007
Most important to Dale was his wife Darlene, his children, and his grandchildren. He was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, and brother.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Darlene of Tomah, 5 children, Diane (Michael) Anderson, Dixie (Thomas Neitzel) Schaldach and Dale II (Shelly), David (Kristie) all of Tomah and Dennis of Fort Meyers, FL, 9 grandchildren, Crystal (special friend Kurt Bernhardt), Shelly (special friend John Benoit ) and Heather (special friend Michael Pasch) Anderson, Dena, Tanya, Chelse, Angelica, Emily, and Jennifer (Tim) Dietzen, 4 great-grandchildren Michael Frost, Damon and Dalana Benoit, Kit Meacham , brother Donald (Ann) of Schofield, a sister Beverly (Dayton) Sowle of Tomah, and nieces, nephews, many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Darold, a grandson Darold, a daughter-in-law Vicky, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold and Norma Libke.
Funeral services were held Tuesday today, September 11, 2007, 11:00 A.M. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, 525 Superior Ave. Tomah,. Pastor Donald R. Buch and Curt Backhaus will officiate. Burial will be at the Mount Vernon Cemetery, Town of Tomah with military honors by the Grassman-Sowle-Larsen-Senz American Legion Post #201.
Relatives and friends are invited to call Monday at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service.
The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, Tomah is assisting the family with the arrangements.