DU Mourns the Loss of Conservation Pioneer John S. Dale

On July 23, 2024, the conservation community lost one of its most ardent supporters and prairie conservation champions—John S. Dale, 78, from Waubay, South Dakota—after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

For 47 years, John was a successful institutional equity portfolio manager and founding partner of Peregrine Capital Management in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He was an avid outdoorsman, skilled fly-fisherman, and conservationist who traveled the world in pursuit of fins, fur, and feathers. He was also a member of several historic duck clubs across the United States and Canada. He possessed a deep love and appreciation for Labrador retrievers, which often accompanied him on his hunting and fishing adventures.   

Growing up in Minnesota, John was a self-taught duck hunter. He joined Ducks Unlimited at the age of 14. "John absolutely loved ducks and duck hunting," said Cheryl, his wife of 59 years. "I remember us traveling in our car from Minnesota to duck hunt the Dakotas early in our marriage. The two of us, our beloved hunting Lab, and a car full of gear. During these memorable adventures together, John and I fell in love with the prairies, and we eventually purchased a home in South Dakota."

Throughout his successful finance career, John understood the importance of making wise business decisions. He applied those same return-on-investment principles to his family's philanthropy and to his active involvement in several different conservation organizations. John was a longtime member of the Montana Land Reliance board of trustees, DU's Wetlands America Trust board, and the Delta Waterfowl Foundation board. 

"John was one of the most passionate and generous duck hunters I've ever met," said Eric Lindstrom, DU's senior managing director of development for the Great Plains. "He keenly understood the importance of the Prairie Pothole Region for continental waterfowl populations. Through his leadership and generosity, he inspired many others to give back to the resource that he cared so deeply about."   

The Dale family's support for prairie conservation is truly remarkable. They have left an indelible mark on the landscape, and John's conservation legacy will live on. We are incredibly grateful for all that he and the Dale family have done for waterfowl conservation and future generations.

He's likely smiling down on his life's work, sitting in a duck boat on a remote prairie marsh with a trusty black Lab at his side and watching a squadron of bluebills or redheads swing the point on their final approach. Thank you, John.