Dale N. Earnhart, 56, of Searsboro died February 3, 2009, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 7, at the Grinnell United Methodist Church with the Rev. Len Eberhart and Pastor Richard Larson, True Life Ministries in Des Moines, officiating. Pallbearers will be Brenden and Levi Thompson, Charissa, Devon, and Brianna Galvan, Justin and Kevin Watkins, Joseph, Danielle, Cody, and Blake Earnhart, Austin Parrott, Cynthia Hill, and Lane Milner. Honorary bearers will be Curt Phipps, Bob Hunter, Grant Rooda, Jerry Tremmel, Bob Grife, and Ryan Duncan. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Smith Funeral Home and where the family will be present from 4:00 to 7:00 Friday evening. Dale was born December 6, 1952, in Washington, Missouri, the son of William Clarence and Leona Anna Mayer Earnhart. He lived in Union, Missouri and moved with his family to Grinnell in 1961. He was a 1970 graduate of Grinnell High School and Iowa Valley Community College in 1976. On June 5, 1971, Dale was married to Betty J. Sears, at the Grinnell United Methodist Church. The couple lived in Searsboro for a few years and then moved to Grinnell in 1973. They returned to Searsboro to make their home in 1982. He was a welder, retail manager, human service worker, and a fireman and emergency medical technician. He was employed at Maytag Company, Donaldson Company, MICA, McNally's Super Value, and Grinnell Lumber Company. He was a member of the Poweshiek County Emergency Management, Poweshiek County Emergency Medical Association, Iowa Firemen's Association, and the Poweshiek County Firemen's Association. He was mayor of Searsboro for several years. Dale loved his family deeply. He was 'a grandfather to several, but a grandpa to hundreds.' He never knew a stranger and his friends were all considered family. He enjoyed barbecuing, bon-fires, camping, the outdoors, and photography. He also enjoyed parades where he could be seen driving the fire truck with his grandchildren riding on top. Survivors include his wife Betty of Searsboro; three children, Cammie (Jeff Milner) Thompson of Grinnell, Tonja (Chris) Nichols of Montrose, Iowa, and Shane (Sammi Beason) of Grinnell; a daughter-in-law, Anna Earnhart of Searsboro; one sister, Donna (Morris) Ridgeway of San Jose, California; one brother, Dean Earnhart of Montezuma; and 17 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Dale Earnhart Memorial Fund.