Dale Lynn Samuelson, 67, of Oakley, Kansas passed away on February 12, 2017 surrounded by his family at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dale was born on January 4, 1950 in Colby, Kansas to Floyd and A. Pearl (Scholl) Samuelson.  He graduated from Oakley High School in 1968.  A standout wrestler, Dale first attended Colby Community College—where he became a two-time All-American—before continuing his education and wrestling career at Kansas State University.  On June 21, 1975 he married Lorraine Gilkerson in Oakley.  Two sons were born to this union, Tyler and Barry.

Dale taught Physical Education and Driver's Education at Oakley High School and was the wrestling coach for OHS for 31 years.  During his tenure from 1973-2004, Dale built the Plainsmen into a Kansas powerhouse—earning a state title in 1974, two state runner-ups and 14 Top 5 team finishes.  He coached 31 individual state champions (including his two sons) and 104 individual state placers.  Affectionately nicknamed the "Grand Pooh-Bah" for his long coaching tenure in the competitive Northwest Kansas League (NWKL), Dale was selected the KWCA 3-2-1A Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2004.  Dale was named the Kansas Wrestling Coach of the Year for all classes in 2004, and inducted into the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006.

Dale was quite the handyman too, especially skilled with a paint brush, but he preferred to spend his time hunting and fishing, collecting coins or watching sports (especially if the Royals or Wildcats were on TV)—and of course, spending time with his eight grandkids.

Dale is survived by his wife, Lorraine of 41 years; two sons, Tyler and his wife Patricia of Olathe, KS, and Barry and his wife Sarah of Oakley, KS; eight grandchildren:  Alec, Blake, Liam, and Ava of Olathe, and Aaron, Eli, Isaac, and Olson of Oakley.  Dale had one sister Gayla (Larry) Berkgren, Oakley; and two brothers, Harley of McPherson, KS; and Tim of Oakley; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and A. Pearl Samuelson.

Memorials may be made to the Oakley Wrestling Club, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and Oakley High School.

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Dale Lynn Samuelson, age 67, of Oakley, passed away Sunday, February 12 2017, at Nebraska Medicine, in Omaha, Nebraska.  He was born January 4, 1950, in Colby, to Floyd and Pearl (Scholl) Samuelson.  He was an Oakley High School teacher and wrestling coach.

Funeral service:  10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 16, 2017 at the Oakley High School Auditorium, Oakley.  Visitation:  Wednesday February 15, 2017, 4 – 8 p.m. at Buffalo Bill Culture Center, Oakley.  Memorials to Oakley Wrestling Club, U.S.D. 274 Oakley High School, and Mantle Cell Lymphoma Society, in care of the Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, PO Box 221, Oakley, KS  67748.

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