Dale Saffels

Judge Dale E. Saffels
Judge Dale E. Saffels, 81, Topeka, died peacefully on Thursday, November 14, 2002, at Midland Hospice House.
Judge Saffels was Senior United States District Judge, appointed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. During his law career, he served as County Attorney of Finney County; was elected to 4 terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, including Democratic Leader of the House; ran for Governor, was appointed Chairman of the Kansas Corporation Commission, and had a private practice.
He was born August 13, 1921, in the town of Moline, in Elk County, Kansas, the son of Edwin Clayton and Lillian May Cook Saffels. He graduated from Moline High School in 1939. He graduated from Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia, then earned his law degree at the Washburn University School of Law.
Judge Saffels served in the Army during WWII commanding the 1373rd Signal Company in France, leaving the service as a Major.
He was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and held offices on the local, state, and national levels in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. He was a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a fellow of the Kansas Bar Foundation, and held memberships in the American, Kansas, and Wichita Bar Associations and in the American Judicature Society. He was a member of Delta Theta Phi, a legal fraternity, and Phi Sigma Kappa, a social fraternity. He served on the Board of Governors of the Washburn University Law School and on the Board of Trustees of the Emporia State University Foundation. In 1974, the Emporia State University Alumni Association named him a distinguished alumnus and in 1983 Washburn Law School students designated him Alumnus of the Year. The Washburn Law School Association awarded him its Distinguished Service Award in 1987.
In 1943, he married Winona R. Vahsholtz and they had 3 children. They were divorced. He was married to Margaret Elaine Cowger Deiter on April 2, 1976. She survives.
Survivors also include two daughters, Suzanne Dale Gravitt, Virginia Beach, Virginia; Deborah S. Godowns, Leawood, Kansas; a son, Jim Bradford Saffels, Overland Park, Kansas; a stepson, Chris Nieman Cowger, Topeka; a stepdaughter Lynda C. Harris, Dallas, Texas; 11grandrandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Topeka. Family and friends may visit from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Sunday at Penwell & Gabel Funeral Home,1321 SW 10th Street, Topeka, KS 66604.. A private family burial will be held Tuesday in Moline, Kansas, where he was born and raised .
Memorial contributions may be made to:
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Building Fund
3625 SW Wanamaker Road
Topeka, Kansas 66614
or the
Topeka Rescue Mission
P.O.Box 8350
Topeka, KS 66608-0350

Penwell-Gabel Mid Town is in charge of arrangements.
Donna Madl, Funeral Director 785-354-8558 FH FAX 785-354-1965