Dale A. Spilinek

Hastings, Nebraska resident Dale Spilinek, 93, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on June 19, 2026, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 26, at First United Methodist Church in Hastings, Nebraska, with pastor Lance Clay officiating. Visitation will be from 1 – 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home in Hastings, with family present from 5 – 7 p.m.

The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Dale’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Dale requested memorials be given to the First United Methodist Church of Hastings, of which he was a member. He was also a member of the VFW, DAV, and American Legion.

Dale was born in Howard County, Nebraska on February 18, 1933, to Anton and Esther (Poss) Spilinek. He grew up working the family farm near Elba, Nebraska and graduated from Elba High School in 1951, where he participated in basketball.

He was united in marriage to Sally Forbes on January 9, 1954, in McCook, Nebraska. While living in towns across Nebraska, they were blessed with five children, Steve, Scott, Mike, Shelly and Chris.

Dale farmed with his mother before enlisting in the U.S. Army in January 1955, and served until discharged in December 1956.

In 1957, he enrolled in linotype school in Charles City, Iowa, and then worked for newspapers in Wakefield and Fullerton, Nebraska. The family moved to Hastings in 1960 where he worked as an offset pressman in the graphic arts department of the Hastings Tribune, and then for Cornhusker Press in 1973.

In 1975, Dale changed careers and became a real estate salesman for Gateway Realty, and then, in 1982, he joined the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier until his retirement in 1997.

Dale’s love for playing baseball followed him and his family from town to town. In his early years, he played for Elba, St. Paul, Wakefield, Fullerton, Genoa, and a city league in Grand Island. When the family moved to Hastings, he played fast pitch softball for several years. After hanging up his cleats, he coached his sons’ baseball teams for 15 years.

Dale also had a passion for bowling, which he passed on to his family. He participated in weekly leagues and tournaments for many years.

Dale and Sally enjoyed traveling the world together. They visited 48 states and many countries on several ocean and river cruises. They especially enjoyed attending Husker football games with their season tickets since 1965, rarely missing a game. They also attended many away and bowl games, often with their Husker van filled with friends.

They were constantly on the go, playing video poker at various casinos, picking winners at the horse races and following their children’s, grand and great-grandchildren’s numerous activities.

Dale owned a boat for much of his family life and was affectionately known as “Grandpa Boat” when he and Sally lived on the lake. It was taken on many family camping trips for fishing, skiing, and tubing fun. His love of camping spread throughout the family, culminating in our upcoming 40th Annual Spilinek Campout.

Dale was preceded in death by his wife Sally, son Steve, daughter Shelly, grandson Tyson, mother and father, stepfather Ed Matousek, brothers Ralph and Gerald, sister Rosella Noden and infant sister Geraldine.

He is survived by his sons and their wives: Scott and Cindy of Weeping Water, Mike and Denise of Grand Island, and Chris and Elizabeth of Hastings; twelve grandchildren: Linsday (Jeff), Jeremy (Lisa), Megan (Ryan), Brad (Mel), Geoff (Amanda), Drew (Kathleen), Melanie (Matt), Justin (Jessica), Caitlin (Steven), Mason (Annmarie), Collin (Emma) and Sarah (Isaac); 29 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Jim Forbes of Palmer; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.