Palos Heights Veteran Remembered for Public Service

The funeral for Donald A. Dahl, Sr., who served in the US Army during WWII and was a longtime member of the Palos Heights Veterans Commission, was held Wednesday morning.

He was 87.

Dahl was a mainstay on the commission, said Palos Heights Mayor Bob Straz during a recent . In addition to running the Veteran's Day and Memorial Day convocations, Dahl also organized a program that brought veterans to speak to junior high schools. Veteran family members of the students were invited to attend.

"That gave kids in the junior highs an appreciation that they would not have seen if it wasn't for Don Dahl," Straz said. "He believed in veterans and what it meant to be a veteran."

Other members of the council shared thoughts about Dahl.

"He's one of the last of the greatest generation, of which our fathers and grandfathers and uncles served," said Alderman Jack Clifford.

He is survived by his wife Ida “Barbara” (Wenzel), many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dahl was a member of the Army Signal Corp. in service and, later, joined Square Post American Legion Post No. 232 and Orland-Palos VFW Post No. 2604. His public service extended to local schools, serving as a board member for districts 125 and 128.

Dahl's interment is at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

Read his full obituary here.

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