BRADY, Nebraska -- Dale Forrest Fattig, 84, died Wednesday (Oct. 20, 2010), at his home in Brady.
He was born July 10, 1926, in McCook, Nebraska, to Harvey and Edith Chapman Fattig. He graduated from McCook High School at the age of 16, then attended McCook Junior College where he played football. He joined the U.S. Navy in February 1944. As a member of the V-12 Unit, he attended St. Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota, and U.S. Navy Preflight School at St. Mary's College in California.
After his discharge in January 1946, he moved with his family to a farm south of Brady where he met his future wife, Marian Hoaglund. They married on June 1, 1947, at the Methodist Church in Brady. They spent the early years of their marriage on Mirage Flats in Sheridan County before returning to Brady.
He went to work for the United States Postal Service in 1954. He served as postmaster in Brady for nearly 20 years, then was a rural mail carrier for a number of years until his retirement in 1981. In addition to his full-time occupation, he was the owner and co-founder of Fattig Fish. In the 80s, he was appointed by the state legislature to the state task force on aquaculture.
He was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church of Brady, the Brady American Legion and the Brady Lions Club. He raised gelbvieh and Simmental cattle.
Survivors include his wife, Marian, of Brady; three sons, Roger and wife, Melanie Fattig, and Mark Fattig, all of North Platte, Nebraska, and Bruce and wife, Ann Fattig, of Kearney, Nebraska; three daughters, Susan and husband, John Grasser of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Sharon Johnson of Boston, Massachusetts, and Carol and husband, Barry Rich of Brady; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Donald "Vic" Fattig, Harvey Cavell Fattig and Harold Paul Fattig.
Graveside services with military honors were today at Fort McPherson National Cemetery with the Rev. Janie Freeman officiating. The family requested a closed casket.