Dale Frederick Medendorp

The skies have lost another frequent flyer.

Dale Medendorp of Crystal Lake passed away at home on August 3, 2023 after a year long battle with cancer.  Dale was born on March 21, 1946 to John and Juella Medendorp in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he grew up, ultimately earning a degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State. In 1965, Dale married Nancy Edgar and together, they had two sons and a daughter.  In 1981, he married Trudy and gained a stepdaughter.  Throughout his life, his know-how, character, and steady demeanor landed him in positions of leadership, not necessarily because he sought those roles, but because people recognized his ingenuity. He has served as president, chairperson, treasurer, and webmaster of many organizations, from townhouse to airport to community. Dale believed in public discourse and civic involvement.

Dale was a hands-on kind of guy all his life. He became a Ham Radio Operator by the time he was in Junior High, and later built his own computer. He worked to design and perfect cell phone technology for Motorola during what he considered a very exciting time in the industry. He created hand made rocking horses for his grandchildren, furniture for his own home and others, and carved himself a basement out of a hillside in his Pennsylvania home. He designed and built his own recumbent bicycle which he pedaled over 100 miles to Lake Geneva on a charity ride. And after retirement, he started his own website business. But without a doubt, Dale’s most arduous building project was his Zenith CH650 which passed FAA certification in March of 2015. As much as he enjoyed flying it, he LOVED building it.

When Dale and Trudy married, they joined First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake and embraced the many aspects of faith and friendship offered there, starting with Fellowship Circle. Over the years, Dale helped organize Men’s Retreats and Men’s breakfasts, worked tirelessly on assessing and addressing the maintenance of the building, created and maintained the first website, participated in Outreach efforts and Community Service projects, served on Stewardship ministry, Church Council, and started Friday morning ping pong tournaments. For more than 30 years, he sang bass in the Vestry choir in worship, and in a multitude of concerts including events in Bern, Switzerland and Carnegie Hall..  FCC’s Adult Work Tours to Re-Member (a volunteer organization on Pine Ridge Reservation) were life changing for Dale.

Aviation has been a passion for Dale since he earned his private pilots’ license in 1976. Attending the annual EAA convention in Oshkosh was a “given” unless something earth-shaking interfered (like cancer.) He took flying seriously, studying magazines and manuals to maintain and improve his skills and aircraft. He loved providing “first flights” to Young Eagles and others. Whenever possible, Dale flew his own Cessna 170 to whatever destination was offered for their annual convention; trips spanning the country from San Diego to Wilmington, NC to Anchorage Alaska. Wonderful flights, friends and memories.

Dale enjoyed the outdoors. He loved camping, bicycling, kayaking, sailing, hiking, traveling to new places, and family outings. He was always willing to step up where his skill set was needed, and even try new things, like ballroom dancing.  In recent years, he was more adamant about environmental causes, studying and promoting renewable energy sources. He was very concerned about the future of our planet.

Dale is survived by his wife, Trudy Medendorp; Sons Paul (Jen)  and Brian (Millie); Daughter, Jennifer Hale, and stepdaughter Jessica Palys. His 9 grandchildren range from 6 months to 29 years of age: Nathan, Lauren, Kalyn, Amanda, Madison, Camryn, Jacob, Evelyn and JuellaMae. He is also survived by sisters: Sandra Tryon and Joy Kneppe.

A visitation for Dale will be held from 4pm until 8pm on Friday, August 11, 2023 at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake, IL. The following morning, refreshments and a time of remembrance for Dale will be held from 11am until the time of service at 1:30pm on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake, 461 Pierson Street, Crystal Lake, IL. Burial to follow at Windridge Memorial Park in Cary, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Dale's memory to First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake, Re-Member, PO Box 5054, Pine Ridge, SD 57770, Donate Online , Arbor Day Foundation, 211 N. 12th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508, Donate Online