From 1924 until 1932 Dale's parents farmed near the village of Morrill, Nebraska, and the town of McGrew, Nebraska. He attended kindergarten in a one room rural schoolhouse, attending elementary school in the village of McGrew. The 1920s saw the last active and lively years of American villages. That era witnessed the rapid rise of farm mechanization, the automobile, and the airplane.
In 1932, in the darkest days of the Great Depression, Dale's family was forced to leave the farm; they moved into McGrew. Dale's father supported the family with income from seasonal farm labor, service as village night watchman in the winter, and the New Deal's WPA. During those years villages died, and small towns in America became less vigorous and lively. Valuing Dale's education, the family remained in McGrew until Dale graduated from high school in a class of six in 1938.
After Dale's graduation from McGrew High School, the family moved to Bayard, Nebraska, and continued the efforts required for survival in the Depression's gloomy years. Dale's limited employment, begun in his teens, was in seasonal labor on farms. One summer he struck out with friends to become a "fruit tramp" in the northern Californian orchards. He was also employed for a time each autumn in the beet sugar mill in Bayard, and on New Deal National Youth Administration projects, whenever they became available.
With the onset of World War II, Dale migrated to the Pacific Northwest, where his only brother had settled, to gain full time employment at Boeing Airplane Co. in Seattle, Washington. As a riveter on B17s and B29s, Dale joined the men and women who built America's war machinery. He worked in an essential war industry for which he received a deferment from military service. His parents rejoined him a year later. After the war he was drafted into the US Army; he completed Air Force basic training at Shepherd Field (now Shepherd Air Force Base) in Texas. Sent to Baltimore, Maryland, Dale was trained at Counter Intelligence Corps School to become an investigator in occupied Austria. He served with the 430th CIC Detachment, participating in routine and major investigations involving sabotage, espionage, suspected treason, sedition, and subversive activities. He also verified personal history statements of civilian employees of the military government. Dale rose to the rank of corporal and was honorably discharged in May 1947 with the World War II Victory Ribbon Army Occupation Medal (Germany).
During his service in Austria, Dale met his future wife, Maria Neulinger. He brought her to the United States in December 1948, and they were married in February 1949. Dale took advantage of the GI Bill to attend and graduate cum laude from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1950 at the age of 30, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Geology. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, an national honor society. He returned to work at Boeing Airplane Co. until he was able to begin a career in city planning with the Seattle City Planning Commission in 1951. Dale completed his post graduate education in Urban Planning Administration. Moving to Portland in 1960 to accept the position of Assistant Planning Director of the Portland City Planning Commission, Dale completed a total of 30 years of government service and retired in 1981.
Near the close of his life, Dale published a book of essays entitled "My Thoughts." A culmination of observation, research, and experience, it reveals Dale's thinking on topics of government, politics, and life.
Dale's 63 year marriage to Maria was blessed with three wonderful children: Lila Brightbill, Marsha St. Laurent, and Samuel Cannady; nine grandchildren; and 6 great grandchildren.
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Dale Dwight Cannady
May 2, 1920 – December 29, 2012
Dale was born in Gering, Nebraska. Although the Great Depression forced the family off the farm in 1931, Dale graduated from McGrew High School in 1938.
World War II led Dale to Boeing Airplane Co. He served in the Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps during the occupation of Austria, where he met his wife of 63 years.
Graduating cum laude (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1950 from University of Washington on the GI Bill, Dale had a 30 year career in city planning in Seattle and Portland.
Dale is survived by his wife Mitzi, 3 children (Lila, Marsha, Sam), 9 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. He published a book of essays near the close of his life entitled My Thoughts.
Memorial service: Calvary Presbyterian Church, NE 71st and Fremont, Pending.
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