Dail Emmet Vorderstrasse

Dail Emmet Vorderstrasse passed away on April 21, 2025, at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln, NE with family by his side at 83 years of age.  He was born March 27, 1942 to Creta (Wills) Vorderstrasse and Emmet John Vorderstrasse at Lebanon, Oregon.  Dail and his mother, Creta, came back to Belvidere, NE to be with Creta’s folks while Emmet served in WW II.  Dail attended Belvidere Public School until his 11th grade, then he went to Bruning Public School and met his future wife, Stella Polage.  Dail and Stella married on October 22, 1961.  To this union four children were born; Bradley (Gina), Jarrod (Becky), Todd (Diane) and Janet K. who passed in infancy.  Dail and Stella were married for 63 years.

In Dail’s teen years he helped many farmers at hay time and some field work.  He spent many summers in Crookston, MN with family where he played baseball, and he also played on Belvidere’s town team.

Dail farmed with his grandfather, Dail Wills.  Dail and Stella bought a farm in the Alexandria area.  He loved his cattle and worked at Hebron Livestock Co. and the Fairbury Livestock Co.  Dail was ring man for many years.  He knew lots of area farmers and cattlemen.

In Dail’s life, he worked nights at the beanery in Bruning, was a night watchman at Mid-America Feed Yards, he worked for Nebraska Game & Parks, served on the Thayer County Zoning Board, and also was a member of the Alexandria Community Club for many years, and even served as President.

In February of 1983, Dail and Stella and family became members of the Alexandria Presbyterian Church.  Dail was an Elder for several years.  He loved the church.  When he was diagnosed with leukemia, it was his goal to be in church every week and to eat out once a week.  He loved to help Jerry with custom combining and Todd with 5,000 head of pigs.  Please ask the boys about more stories.

Dail loved to have early morning coffee at the Alexandria Café, and have a hot game of Hearts with Steve Deger, Jim Durflinger and Bob Milius.

Dail loved his grandkids and great-grandkids, and always had a gentle humble spirit, except when loading cattle or pigs.  He and granddaughter Paige bottle-fed lots of baby calves.

Dail is preceded in death by his grandparents, Dail and Fern Wills; parents Creta and Emmet Vorderstrasse; his in-laws Emmitt and Erma Polage; and Aunt Arlene Graff and Uncle Wallace Graff; daughter Janet K.; and infant brother Douglas.

Dail is survived by his wife Stella; sons, Bradley (Gina), Jarrod (Becky), Todd (Diane); niece Kelli Graff Niedbalski and family; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a host of friends.

Memorials are directed to the Alexandria Presbyterian Church and the Alexandria Community Club.

A Memorial Service for Dail will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Alexandria Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, NE.  Inurnment will be at the Belvidere Cemetery, Belvidere, NE.  Dail’s Family will be Greeting Friends on Tuesday, April 29, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Alexandria Presbyterian Church.