Dale Leon Mittge
April 16, 1948 - August 02, 2013
Beloved Brother, Father
Dale Leon Mittge, 65, of Wauconda, WA, died August 2, 2013 in Everett, WA. Dale, the son of Merrill and Donna (Thompson) Mittge was born April 16, 1948 in Stockton, CA. He and his parents moved to Kirkland, WA in 1950 where he was raised and graduated from Lake Washington High School in 1966. He served in the Marine Corps and did a tour of duty in Viet Nam. After discharge, he attended Seattle Community College and became a diesel mechanic. He worked for Emerson Diesel before joining the Cadman Sand and Gravel family where he worked for 30+ years. Dale was a mountain climber, a member of the Mountaineers, and an avid hiker. He pioneered a route up Minaret in the Olympics in 1973. After retiring from Cadman, Dale retired to his dream home in Wauconda.
Dale is survived by his son, Josh, of Renton and daughter, Anna (Brandt) Peterson, and grandson, Kaden, of Carnation. Also survived by brother Merrill “Larry” (Pauline) of Lynnwood, sister, Kathy of Everett, and brother, Kevin of Florence, OR. Also surviving is his former mother-in-law, Evelyn Luft, whom he loved very much, and aunts, uncles and cousins in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Dale’s desire was to have his ashes scattered at the Kendall Katwalk on the Pacific Crest Trail, which he described as “the most beautiful place on earth”. His son, daughter and brother, Kevin, will take that hike with Dale for the last time.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. Please contact Kathy Mittge at kmittge@comcast.net or 425-257-9272 for details.
Memorial
My Heart is in the Highlands
My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer -
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.
Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North
The birth place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.
Farewell to the mountains high cover'd with snow;
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forrests and wild-hanging woods;
Farwell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.
My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, whereever I go.
Robert Burns
As We Look Back
As we look back over time
We find ourselves wondering...
Did we remember to thank you enough
For all you have done for us?
For all the times you were by our sides
To help and support us...
To celebrate our successes
To understand our problems
And accept our defeats?
Or for teaching us by your example,
The value of hard work, good judgment,
Courage and integrity?
We wonder if we ever thanked you
For the sacrifices you made.
To let us have the very best?
And for the simple things
Like laughter, smiles and times we shared?
If we have forgotten to show our
Gratitude enough for all the things you did,
We're thanking you now.
And we are hoping you knew all along,
How much you meant to us.