POST FALLS, Idaho — Dale Joel Van Meter, 96, passed away on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls, ID. Dale was born at his home in the Orchard Vale community of Zillah, Washington, the son of Joel Emmett and Irma Joy (Woodell) Van Meter.
Dale attended schools in Neosho County and graduated from Thayer High School. He attended Neosho County Community College from 19461948, then transferred to Kansas State University. While in college, Dale was drafted into the U. S. Army and served from April 1951 to August 1952, then returned to K-State and completed his degree in Electrical Engineering.
Dale felt the call into Christian ministry and attended the Kentucky Mountain Bible College from 1955 to 1958, later being ordained by the Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association. He served in various pastoral capacities and as a Christian radio engineer prior to becoming a pastor for the Wesleyan Church in Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Idaho prior to his retirement in 1988.
Upon retiring to Kansas, Dale and his wife Iris began raising and marketing fruit, mainly apples and sweet apple cider. As the owner/operators of Van Meter Orchards, Dale and Iris were members of the Kansas Fruit Growers Association. Over the years, Dale also served as a volunteer EMT and firefighter and was a licensed VFR pilot, logging over 250 hours of flying time.
On June 11, 1960, Dale married Iris Mae Kelley in Vancleave, Kentucky. Together they raised 6 children, provided care for a number of foster children, and walked faithfully with the Lord for nearly 61 years until Iris’s death on May 5, 2021.
Survivors include: Children: Kevin J. Van Meter of Yates Center; Lauren R. Van Meter of San Diego, California; Elizabeth G. Patzer of Post Falls, Idaho; Kristian D. Van Meteren of Leavenworth; Kellene J. Walker of Palmetto, Florida; Alicia L. Sterling of Humboldt; and a sister: Phyllis A. Johnson of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Iris, a brother A. Wayne Van Meter and sisters Shirley J. Powers, Marjorie D. Stringer, and Marian L. Carson.
Funeral services will be held at the Neodesha Church of the Nazarene on Saturday, July 19, at 10 a.m., with burial following at the Thayer cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 18, from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home in Fredonia. Memorials have been suggested to Kentucky Mountain Bible College and can be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Services are under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home 420 S. 20th St., P.O. Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736
