Dale Joseph Flaherty

Dale Flaherty, passed away on Feb. 19, 2015, at 92 years young in Delmar Gardens Nursing Facility in Las Vegas, Nev. A memorial service followed by burial at Valley Memorial Park will take place in Spring Valley in the spring. Dale was born July 2, 1922, in Peru to Frank D. and Viola (Lining) Flaherty. As a young man, Dale met Jeanne Carol Smith at the local hangout, The Igloo. They married on Jan. 9, 1943, and had four children: Daniel Joseph, Clare Marie, David Timothy and Mary Leah. Jeanne passed away from us in May 1977. Dale found love again, when he lost his luggage while traveling in Taiwan. Gina Shaio helped Dale find his luggage and love. Gina and Dale married on April 22, 1978. They enjoyed almost 37 years of marriage and were so happy about their recent move from Illinois to Nevada to their “honeymoon house.” Dale joined the Navy in 1942 to fight in World War II. He was proud to be a Seabee. He served as an electrician’s mate with the US Construction Battalion and was stationed in the Pacific aboard the floating dry dock, USS ARD-9. He was a life member of International Association Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He also was a member of Catholic War Veterans, the American Legion and Knights of Columbus. Dale owned a heating business for nine years. He then worked as a building mechanic for United Airlines for 25 years until his retirement in 1987. Dale’s biggest passion was travel. He traveled every chance he got. He loved to share stories of his adventures around the world. His most recent trip was to Taiwan to revisit the USS ARD-9 in April 2014. He shared his love of travel and his buddy passes with his family to encourage them to see and experience the world. Dale was always a looker and had great hair, even at 92. He was unconventional, loved to laugh and break out into song. He loved his cats, and referred to his favorite cat, Nelly, as his “No. 1 daughter.” He was a loyal friend and generous man to his friends and family. He often enjoyed a cup of warm tea, bowls of chocolate ice cream and chocolate-covered cherries. Dale loved technology and always had the latest gadgets. At 92, he was engrossed in pop culture, social media, and Facebook. Dale also was a handyman — he could build and fix just about anything. Dale was preceded in death by his first wife Jeanne Carol (Smith) Flaherty; sons, Daniel Joseph and David Timothy; sister, Sarah Joyce; and many friends. He is loved and missed by his wife, Gina; daughters, Clare Marie Jacobsen and Mary Leah Iverson; brother, Francis; sister, Teresa; daughter-in-law, Melynda; grandchildren, Danielle, Jennifer, Eric, and Kalee; step-grandchild, Kierstyn; two great-grandchildren, Samuel and Simone; and a step-great-grandchild, Timothy. Condolences may be placed on Dale's memorial page on www.palmmortuary.com.