Dale Just

“Just as I am without one plea, but that Jesus blood was shed for me.”

On March 14, 2026, our good and faithful LORD brought Dale home at age 77, after a yearlong battle with cancer. What a blessed day to see his Savior face to face and a wonderful reunion of saints who have gone before!

Dale’s love of God came before everything in his life and positively influenced so many with his role as a teacher and servant of our Lord. Praise, thanks and glory to God for his perfect plan for Dale!

Dale Freddy Just was born July 3, 1948, in Green Bay, Wisconsin to Frank and Hazel (Zuelke) Just. He was reborn through the water and Word of Holy Baptism at Zion Lutheran Church, Morrison, WI, where he attended Christian Day School and was confirmed. Dale’s father died when he was fifteen; thankfully, the Lord provided a number of Christian mentors to help him grow into a “Just” talkative and faith-filled young man. After high school, Dale attended Bethany College in Mankato, with one of his good friends, Norman. He then attended Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm to become a Christian day schoolteacher. He taught at Centennial Lutheran, Milwaukee, Tess Corners, Wisconsin, Redeemer, Tucson, Calvary, Dallas, and then back to Centennial. He coached sports at each of these locations and especially enjoyed basketball.

At Centennial is where God planned for him to meet the love of his life, also a teacher there, Marilyn Schrimpf, who he called “Lovey”. They married in 1987. Interestingly, Marilyn was in seventh grade when Dale did his student teaching at St. John’s in Goodhue.

When Dale resigned from teaching in 1988. He and Marilyn moved to the Goodhue area, then back to Freedom, WI, following his mother’s death. After that, they moved near Mike and Linda Frost (Marilyn’s sister) and the Frost’s son Matthew, their godson, who was a special part of their lives. In 2008 they relocated to Rochester.

Dale always kept busy and enjoyed many activities including: being a crazy Green Bay Packers fan, serving food and singing on the Princess Red Wing Excursion Boat, helping at Hahlbeck’s Greenhouse, janitor at Fox Valley Lutheran, selling at flea markets with his sisters, “Dale the auctioneer”, 3 months in Zambia with missionaries John and Mindy Holtz and family, worked various jobs - Menards, Park Place as a shuttle driver, and Advance Auto Parts delivery, enjoyed visiting the elderly and singing at nursing homes, gardening – especially daylilies and gladiolas, picking black raspberries, splitting wood, enjoying nature and walking in the woods, later…driving his electric wheelchair on bike paths in Rochester, playing games and especially sheepshead and cribbage, but above all – he had the gift of gab. Dale was a people person, impacting many students and friends with his caring personality. Some friendship highlights include- living in Schiebel’s basement when at Centennial, Krueger’s basement at Tess Corners (and traveling with them to South Africa), and traveling with George Radloff and 2 of his “mothers” to Austria.

Being a fun guy, he was always ready for adventure, planning parties, bicycle trips and creating lifetime memories which he remembered in detail and talked about with friends for the rest of his life. God has blessed Dale with so many wonderful and caring friends that brought him great joy. Talking with people was Dale’s main gift that he loved to use.

Dale was always a choir member with an exceptional gift for singing. He could play piano by ear and enjoyed playing countless hymns on his harmonica. Faithful service to his Lord was Dale’s hallmark. He readily spoke about Jesus and shared his faith.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marilyn, his siblings Marilyn Kaye and Sandy Rosner, Mother-in-law, Lois Schrimpf, sister-in-laws Linda (Michael) Frost, Julie Schrimpf, Carol (Bradley) Grover, Elizabeth (Ron) Peters, brother-in-law Ken (Kristin) Schrimpf and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Nancy Van, niece Debbie Sheffer, brother-in-laws Ed Kaye, Butch Rosener and Curtis Schrimpf, and father-in law- Edwin Schrimpf.

Dale left behind many wonderful friends and “just” adventures to remember. It was truly a “justifying life” (per Dale 😊).

A heartfelt thank you to the many friends and family who visited, called, sent letters, cards, brought gifts and food, prayed and supported him (and Marilyn) all his life and especially during his illness and final days. A special thank you to Pastor Wenzel for his frequent visits.

The funeral service will be held at Christ Our Rock Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN, Sunday, March 22, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. with visitation one hour prior at the church. Lunch will be served immediately following the service. Memorials to Christ our Rock Church are preferred.

A memorial/burial service will be held at Zion Lutheran, Morrison, WI, at a later date to be determined.