Rugger Winter Fests and Arctic Fests conjure up many images for me.
I won't go into detail, but remember the Starlight Ballroom?
Let's just say if you did play in one or more of these 1980s tournaments, then these pictures from Scotty Frosch ought to make you feel good about how much smarter you've grown over the years.
Photos Courtesy of Scott Frosch
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
Click on a picture to enlarge it (it may or may not get bigger).
All I had was my crappy cell phone camera but here's what I've got from the Alumni weekend this year.
Email me your pics (especially from the game) and I'll throw them up.
Many thanks to Dick and Raz for putting me up that weekend. SL
From Chuck Gilman:
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
10/1/2007 12:21 PM
If we are lucky once in a lifetime someone like Dale Jensen comes into our lives. He had the unique and rare ability to make everyone around him better. When you were down on the ground he was there first and picked you up. You were never alone or in trouble when he was on the pitch he was always with you. If you needed support he carried you and was always with you and without fail was always right beside you when you needed him most.
The ability Dale had to embrace adversity and the love he had for the challenge of the game of rugby carried over in how he lived life. It should be a lesson and an example to us all on how to live.
I will never forget how he was with me on one cold icy day in February. In an Arctic Fest (UW-Stevens Point) tournament with our backs to the wall in a pitch that was slush and pure ice water. Dale the was the only one man wearing shorts and he was acting like a Polar Bear on a holiday. He was the only one still excited to be playing in overtime. 7 men take the pitch freezing and on the verge of hypothermia. Madison drives the ball to our 5 meter line. Then Otto some how some way wins the line out. Tuttle agrees to run the ball and pass as oppose to kick it for touch. In the only time Jimmy O (Oldfield) and myself ever passed the ball more than once to each other. I eventually have a break away but I am losing my balance stumbling trying to stay upright. Then I hear over my left shoulder WITH YOU! I turn and pass to the man who is smiling ear to ear and grinning at full speed. No body in there right mind should have been there.
No one and no body other than Dale would have had the stamina perseverance and the willingness to follow down field just to support a fellow rugger. But there Dale was as always. WITH ME ONCE AGAIN! I can still see Dale in my mind as he scored the winning try with a Swan dive back into the slush just like it was the 4th of July and 70 degrees.
That memory is ingrained in my mind and is my fondest memory of the game we loved and played with passion and camaraderie. We won that Arctic Fest Tournament because of one man who made 14 other men play harder longer and tougher than we ever would have or could have played with out him. He led be example rather than words and never asked for anything in return except that you gave it your all and left nothing on the field.
Because that is all he ever did. It required an effort from some but with Dale it was just second nature and ingrained in his personality.
I thank God for allowing me to the reward of playing football and Rugby and becoming friends with a man of tremendous pride an incredible unselfishness for others and a passion for life that should burn within us all. A man who graced our presence with such honor and character like few others I have ever meet or ever known.
I am a better person for having meet him knowing him and having shared the field with him. I truly know now in my heart that heaven is indeed is a better place because he is there.
I will miss you Dale but I will never ever forget you!
Alan Resch
Photo Courtesy of Scott Frosch
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
9/30/2007 5:34 PM
UWL Ruggers,
Since Dale's funeral was scheduled for Monday several people went up to the viewing today (Sunday). Among them were Skippy Blake, Dick Brewer, Scott Dreher, Al Resch, John Otto, Jim Oldfield, and Chuck Gilman and Dave Tuttle. - thanks to those people for their commitment in honoring Dale's life.
Dale was again working for the military, at Fort McCoy, at the time of his death. Since Dale was such a long serving member of the arm forces, his family is being suitably compensated through insurances, pensions and educational funds. They have assigned a person to deal with all financial issues so that Kathy and the kids are OK.
On another note, Skippy Blake says that Otto looks fantastic after his medical scare.
That's all for now,
Roger Riley
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
|
9/30/2007 1:53 PM
All,
Dale Jensen and I were roommates from 1982 to 1984. My three years living with Dale at UW-LaCrosse were three of the most memorable and best years of my life. Before I met Dale I had never played rugby, I had never drank beer for breakfast, and I had never believed in myself as much as I did when I was with Dale. There were many firsts in my time with Dale. In general, Dale taught me to live life FULL SPEED AHEAD. The only thing bigger than Dale's appetite for fun was the size of his heart. Dale never let me down in any way, shape or form. He is the best roommate I have ever had. I don't know if I could have kept up with Dale if I had stayed in Wisconsin, it was a wild ride.
I also had the privilege of being there when Kathy and Dale met. I instantly knew that Kathy was the only woman who had an outside chance at corralling Dale and take caring of him at the same time. She is and was a class act, and is one of the nicest, sweetest, strongest human beings I have ever met.
Kathy - you and your boys are in my heart and prayers forever. I am so sorry I can not be there for you this week. I promise to come visit when I get back to the US in two years. I now live in Shanghai, China, but will be back and I promise to come and visit. I never wanted to be home and back in Wisconsin more than right now.
I owe many of my "rites of passage" decisions to Dale and his wisdom as my "older brother roommate" . When I moved to Dallas, Texas in 1984, I swore to keep in touch and stay connected. It didn't happen.
Somehow I lost touch with Dale, Kathy, and many others over the past twenty five years - except for Christmas cards each year, and occasional letters. I always believed in my heart I would someday have more time to hang out with Dale and my other friends from Wisconsin - never taking the time to connect or attend alumni events etc. Always too busy. Now my chance to spend time with Dale is over and I will regret it for the rest of my life. Please call someone you have been meaning to call, or plan to visit a old friend. Don't put it off - life it too short.
Dale - I love you for all of the fun we had and memories we will always share. God Bless You.
Jeff Asmus
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
|
9/29/2007 3:11 PM
Gents,
Here is what the Saturday La Cross Tribune had to say about Dale and when you can see his body or go to the funeral:
"Lt. Col. Dale Jensen passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Sept 26, 2007, in Sparta. Dale was born May 12, 1956, to Otto and viola Jensen in Wild rose, WI.
On spet 7, 1985, he married Kathy Aspeslet, and together they had three sons. Dale enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1974, and when he left the Air Force in 1980, he joined the army obtaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He rpoudly served his country earning several awards and decorations.
Dale is survivied by his wife Kathy: sons Private Bradley Jensen, Will Jensen and Eric Jensen , all at home; and two sisters, Patty and Lois, both of Texas. Dale was preceded in death by four brothers, Randall, Elwood, Alllen, and Darrell.
Funeral services for Dale will be at 11.30am, Monday, Oct 1 at Valley Funeral Home, Appleton, WI, with Paster Matthew Duin officiating. Visitation will be from 1-5pm Sunday and from 10am until the time of services Monday. Burial will take place at the Saxeville Union Cemetery in Saxeville, WI , with full military honors"
GENTLEMEN, FEEL FREE TO GO AND HONOR DALE. HE WAS HE MOST EFFERVESCENT AND HARDEST FLANKERS CREATED. HE WILL BE REMEMBER FOR HIS "NEVER SAY DIE " ATTITUDE AND HIS JOY FOR BOTH LIFE AND RUGBY. AFTER LEAVING LA CROSSE HE CONINUED HIS RUGBY CAREER WITH APPLETON RUGBY CLUB.
Roger Riley
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
Dedicated to creating a support network to locate old mates.
If you want to set up a page for your club drop me a line. It's free.
All I need is your name, the club name, city, state & country. I'll create your space and you can add content as you like.
Also to post to the site you must sign in and your comment will post upon review.
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
|
