Dale Elwood Ihlenfeldt, born August 22, 1919, in a farmhouse in Two Creeks, Wisconsin. Born to Eternal Life December 28, 2011, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Preceded in death by parents Roy and Esther Ihlenfeldt, brother Stanley and son William. Dale is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Elinor; children: Julia, Susan (Daniel Dworkin), Thomas (Lynn), Amy, Ellen (Scott Stone) and Andrew (Sonja); and grandchildren: Daniel, David, Samuel, Benjamin, Paul, Michelle and Anna.

Dale attended UW-Madison, earning an undergraduate degree in accounting in 1940. He served in the Navy during World War II as a Supply and Disbursing Officer on the USS Henry W. Tucker. In 1948, Dale earned his law degree at UW-Madison. After graduation, he worked briefly in the law firm of Bitker and Marshall before becoming law clerk for the late U.S. District Judge Robert E. Tehan. He later worked as clerk of court and in 1966 was appointed as Referee in Bankruptcy for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, later as Bankruptcy Judge. He retired in 1985 but continued to work under senior status until 1995, and thereafter continued to provide updates and participate in seminars sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Dale was a kind, loving and generous man. He had a great love for his family, his country and the legal profession and always showed great concern for the dignity and pride of other human beings.  He was a lifelong supporter of UW-Madison.

A Memorial Service was held on January 16, 2012 at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

Published in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on January 1, 2012.