IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Dale Hobein
A private family service in June at Fort Logan National Cemetery is planned for Dale Eugene Hobein, 89, who passed away May 6, 2024, at his home in Thornton, Colorado.
Dale was born Aug. 23, 1934, in Marion to Bertha and Roy Hobein.
After graduating from Marion High School in 1952, he went on to the University of Kansas for three years until he was drafted into the Army.
He served until 1958 as a Morse code interceptor in the area of Hessen, Germany.
After his separation, he bought a three-wheeled “Messerschmitt” and toured Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East for a year.
He returned to the United States and studied at the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in philosophy. He spent a few years working a variety of jobs in electrical drafting before moving to Denver in 1965.
His sister, Donna, was teaching in Denver and introduced him to another teacher, Mary Bennett, whom he would marry in 1966.
That same year he started his teaching career at Northglenn High School, where he would teach German for the next 27 years.
He was the foreign language department head starting in 1968.
During his time at Northglenn, he ran the foreign language fair and took German students on various outings: Oktoberfest in Denver, Central City, the Kickers Club, Turnverein, and the Black Forest Restaurant in Nederland to name a few.
Dale and Mary went on to have three children, Roberta (Robbie), Mark, and Jeanine.
After “retiring” in 1993, he taught German for three years at Thornton High School and one year at Horizon High School and then went on to substitute teach in the district every year until he was 82, when Mary, his wife of 50 years, passed away.
He moved to Chandler, Arizona, and lived with his youngest daughter, Jeanine, and her family until 2023, when they all moved back to Colorado.
After he finally really retired, he joined a total of five different barbershop chorus groups in Colorado and Arizona, took up zip lining (the last was the longest, fastest zip line in North America in Whistler, British Columbia, at age 88), played thousands of hand of gin rummy with his family, and traveled all around the town in his E-Trike.
Dale was predeceased by his wife, Mary, and his son, Mark.
He is survived by daughters Robbie Hobein (and David Millis) and Jeanine Szabla (and Richard); grandsons Kelly Schmidt, Tobin Schmidt, and Robert Szabla; niece Denielle Hoffman (and Richard); and nephew Eric Lilley.
He will be missed by all, including his four-legged family members, Carly and Olive.
A special thank-you goes to Dr. Grosbach in Arizona, Drs. Serkoji and Corkern in Colorado, and all the wonderful staff (especially the nurses) at Denver Hospice.