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- In Loving Memory of John Dalke
John Lawrence Dalke, 92, of Boulder died peacefully at his home Sunday, August 6, 2006. He was born in a farmhouse north of Enid, Oklahoma, December 27, 1913, the son of Peter L. and Elizabeth (Regier) Dalke. The family moved to North Enid when he was six years old where he grew up and completed his general education. When old enough, he worked on an uncle's farm in the wheat fields for fifty cents a day, often sleeping in the fields. Upon graduation from Enid High School John entered Phillips University in Enid. After completing requirements for a teaching certificate he taught school for two years in a Garfield County one room schoolhouse (grades one through eight). He then went back to Phillips and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. He was granted a fellowship to attend the University of Oklahoma at Norman. There he completed a Master's Degree in physics. That summer he worked for an oil company doing prospecting work near Yoakum, Texas. He married Thelma June Caskey in Yoakum on July 14, 1939. Thelma grew up north of Enid, and they had known each other since childhood.
At the end of the summer, John and Thelma returned to the University of Oklahoma where John completed most of the requirements for a PhD in physics until being drafted for service during World War II. In 1941, he was assigned to the Carnegie Institute of Washington as a research physicist in the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. In 1946, he completed a research assignment in electromagnetism at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington. In 1947, he accepted a position with the Department of Commerce National Bureau of Standards (NBS) in Washington, where he became Chief of the Applied Electromagnetics Section. He was Chief of the Mine Fuse Division when it was split off into the newly created Harry Diamond Laboratories under the Department of the Army. In 1955, he returned to NBS, moving to the newly opened Boulder, Colorado, Laboratory, where he accepted a position as Chief of the Radio Materials Section. He then became Chief of the Electromagnetic Properties Section and continued research in electromagnetic properties of materials.
During his career at NBS in Boulder he represented the United States on the International Electrotechnical Commission, participating in many international meetings in Europe and Israel. He was a member of a number of professional organizations including Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Society), and the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers; he was a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado. He published research papers, gave presentations and received awards for his work in the fields of electromagnetism and radio materials. In the latter part of his career John was dedicated to the promotion of the metric system in the United States, lecturing around the country on this subject. He retired from the NBS Boulder Laboratory in 1977.
Among his avocations from the time he was a young boy and into retirement was building and repairing radios. He was a member of The Colorado Radio Collectors Antique Radio Club and was recognized for his contributions to the development of radio technology. His work is cited in an NBS Publication entitled "Achievement in Radio: Seventy Years of Radio Science, Technology, Standards, and Measurement at NBS."
During his retirement, he enjoyed vegetable gardening, reading (including study of science, history and religion), and applying his natural abilities to repairing anything from automobiles to televisions and undertaking construction projects such as plumbing, electrical wiring and cabinet making. His well-stocked shop of tools and equipment enabled him to accomplish any task he undertook.
Most of all John enjoyed associating with his family: his wife Thelma; a daughter, Nancy Socha of Kerrville, TX; and three sons: Larry Dalke of Louisville, CO, Roger Dalke, PhD., of Boulder, CO; and Bill Dalke of Aurora, CO. He was blessed with seven grandchildren: Tanya Dalke, Carolynn Young, M.D., Kate Rymer, Michael Dalke, Alyssa Dalke, Joanna Dalke and Hannah Dalke; and two great-grandchildren: Evan and Madeline Young. He enjoyed teaching them masterfully from the wealth of experience and knowledge he had gained during his life.
A memoir of John would not be complete without mentioning his wonderful personality. Most people would call to their minds what his family remembers about him, that he was a kind and gentle person who took great interest in the mutual exchange of good will with all whom he came in contact, as he reached out and touched them.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/john-dalke-obituary?id=13587494
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1913 - 2006 (92 years)
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