Former Glasgow resident Dale Henry Haskamp died Sunday (Aug. 30, 2009) at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo., after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 38.
Born June 26, 1971, in Fayette, he was the son of James B. and Mary Koenig Haskamp. Dale graduated from Glasgow High School in 1989. He married Adrienne Panter on June 3, 2000. The couple made their home in Pagosa Springs, Colo. Dale led an interesting and varied life. He majored in forest ecology and natural resources at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. He later went back to school to get teaching credentials in high school science.
Dale was an accomplished kayaker and paddled many rivers across the western U.S., from the mildest to the wildest. He was always calm and serene, even when running challenging Class V, his friends always felt safe in his company. He also loved to mountain bike, telemark ski, and backpack in the high country of Colorado and California, as well as the redrock country of the Colorado Plateau. He loved the natural world and spent as much time out and about as he could. He traveled extensively, and saw a lot of the world, including South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Madagascar, as well as South America, especially the high Andes of Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina and Bolivia.
In his life he worked as a caving guide, and as a fire ecologist and botanist for the Department of Interior in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Redwood, Lassen, and Crater Lake National Parks, as well as at Lava Beds National Monument, and Shasta Dam National recreation area. He taught for a while at the Pagosa Springs Junior High School and the Archuleta County Education Center. He worked as a carpenter in Pagosa Springs, Colo., remodeling old houses and helping to build new ones. He was a beloved travel guide for the American Institute of Medical Education, leading large groups of people to many parts of the world, including Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, New Zealand and Spain. Dale was a natural teacher. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of natural history, from botany to birds, animals, geology and weather. He volunteered at Chimney Rock Archeological Area as a tour guide as well. Dale was a gentle, compassionate man who made everyone feel at ease and appreciated. Even with his many talents, he was always humble and gracious. He had kind words for everyone and will be missed by all who knew him.
Dale is survived by his wife, Adrienne; his father, Jim; and six sisters, Denise (Mike) Gebhardt, Donna (Steve) Owens, Debbie (Steve) Garrotto, Dianne (Bill) Mathews, Delores (Robert) Childs, Dina (Charlie) Polson; three brothers, Dennis (Debbi) Haskamp, Daniel (Carrie) Haskamp and Damian (Sharon) Haskamp; 17 nieces and nephews; and two Bernese Mountain dogs, Mole and Seamus.
Dale was preceded in death by his mother, Mary.
A celebration of life will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Aholt Cemetery north of Glasgow with Fr. Jerry Stockman and the Rev. Roger McMurry officiating.
Memorials suggested to St. Mary’s School or Glasgow High School in Dale’s name in care of Jim Haskamp, 821 First St. Glasgow, MO 65254.