L. Dale Parmer

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10 It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of the heart and soul of our family, L. Dale Parmer on Friday, December 6th, 2024, at the age of 77. A native, and life-long resident of Batesville, Indiana, Dale was the eldest son of the 7 children born to Leslie and Ilene (nee Schene) Parmer on July 4th, 1947. True to his birth date, Dale was always a bit of a firecracker in his youth. He loved to run around with friends, and probably gave his Mom a couple gray hairs, before finding his reason to “straighten up”. It was a quest to win that girl he met at the Batesville Public Pool that became his reason for being. Dale knew as soon as he met her, and in fact said it to her then, still both kids, that he would marry her someday. The three-mile walks from Batesville to Oldenburg to call on his beloved Paula, was just the beginning of the giant-hearted, lover-of-life and people that Dale would soon reveal himself to be. His family has always known him to know no limits to the lengths he would go to show up for anyone he loved. Dale was selfless from the start. Working to pitch in where needed at home, buying shoes for his little sister, Lisa, for example, helped to make him the backbone of family life in Batesville. Whether loving husband, devoted son, supportive brother, or eventual doting father and grandfather, Dale was always there, always to be counted on. Always without conditions, he relished his role and flourished in loving his family hard. He married Paula Munchel in 1968 at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg. Nothing in this life has ever made him prouder. He lived to love her, and within a few years his two daughters as well. Jessi and Tricia will remember him for the hot dog pizza, and the jewelry he made by hand; but mostly for how proud he was of them. Dale had more than a few hardships in life that would’ve brought a lesser man to his knees. The owner of Dale’s Jewelry for 19 years, being robbed and having to start all over comes to mind. And ultimately, the worst injustice of all: the Cancer. But Dale never complained. Instead, his viewpoint stayed focused on love. He focused on how everyone else was feeling. Dale was better than anyone at making others feel important. He never knew a stranger and was always the first to make a guest feel like family. Whether it be a relative he only saw once a decade, or a teammate of one of his grandkids that he invited to “the next 15 years of Thanksgivings”, he lived to make others feel seen and included. He loved everyone he met as if they were family, because to him, they absolutely were. He had hobbies he loved. Most notably, he loved to fish in his younger years. Later it was photography. His favorites were landscapes, especially fall scenes and mountains, but he was most honored to serve as the Official Photographer of Oldenburg’s Freudenfest. He loved the Colts and any sport, recital or performance of any kind that included one of his kids or grandkids. There was no amount of understatement or humbleness when it came to that. He never missed a chance to share his pride in the kids. Over the years, Dale would say, “Look what we started” as he looked around the table seeing his wife, two daughters, five grandchildren, and (so far) seven great-grandchildren. As family we can take comfort in knowing he lives in each of us…the stubbornness, the corniness, the unconditional fierceness with which he defended family, and the easiness with which he loved. Dale is preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Ilene (nee Schene) Parmer, his sisters, Patty Hart, Donna Tice, and Connie Westerfeld, as well as a few nieces and nephews. He is survived by his beloved wife, Paula, his daughters Jessica Parmer and Tricia Parmer. He also leaves behind Grandchildren Brittany (Chris) Heil, Tad (Madison) Parmer, Ryland Parmer, Aidan Parmer, Olivia Parmer and Great-Grandchildren Jonah, Quinn, and Elliot Heil, Riley, Haidyn, Finn and Audrey Parmer. Dale is also survived by his brother Jan “Tom” (Ann Smolinske) Parmer, and sisters Kindra Hampton and Lisa Parmer, and numerous nieces and nephews of great importance to him. He has left an unfillable void, but he is alive in the soundtrack of his life he left behind for all of us to enjoy and share. Music was his lifeblood and gave him so much joy and solace. He was a collector of songs of all kinds. Music was his language and the songs that surround us will be his enduring legacy as those memories will live on. Songs will never sound the same without him chiming in with a “shoo-bee-doo” or a tapping foot, but they will remain a bridge that connects us forever. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 12th, from 4 – 7 p.m., at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 13th, at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg, with Fr. John Barker O.F.M. officiating. The burial will follow in the church cemetery, with military graveside rites being conducted by the Ripley County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3183 and by the Prell-Bland American Legion Post #271 of Batesville. Dale was steadfast in his Catholic faith and trusted in the teachings of his church in his final days. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be directed to the Oldenburg Freudenfest at P.O. Box 232, c/o Karen Munchel, Oldenburg, IN 47036.

L. Dale Parmer

July 4, 1947 - December 6, 2024