E. Dale Cobble

E. Dale Cobble, age 94, of Hobart, Indiana, passed away peacefully in his home Tuesday, May 9, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born in Gary, Indiana, on January 31, 1929, and later moved to Portage, Indiana, where he graduated from Portage High School in 1947. Dale is survived by his wife Carole (Tonagel) Cobble with whom he recently celebrated 72 years of marriage, sons Brian Cobble (Loretta) and Dean Cobble (Maggie), grandchildren Mary Elizabeth Cobble, Lucy Jones Cobble and Grace Lafferty Cobble. He was preceded in death by his parents John Patrick Cobble and Phyllis Lafferty Cobble, sisters Catherine Cobble Swenson (Paul), Carol Ann Cobble Sanders, Rita Rae Cobble and brother Samuel Cobble. Dale received his B.S. in accounting from Trine (Tri-State) University located in Angola, Indiana, in 1950. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1952. One year later, following a short stint with a downtown Gary radio station, Dale was hired by John Primich, son-in-law of George W. Berkheimer, as Controller for the G.W. Berkheimer Co., Inc., a decision that would change Dale’s life forever. At the time of his hire in 1953, the fledgling wholesaler of coal and fuel oil heating equipment and supplies boasted 8 employees and two locations in Gary and Indianapolis. Dale dedicated the next 70 years of his life to Berkheimer as Treasurer, COO, President and Chairman of the Board, leading the evolution of the company into a full-service, regional distributor of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment, accessories and supplies operating 26 locations in three states. He was also a tireless advocate for the HVACR distribution industry, chairing numerous trade association committees and serving as its President in the 1980’s. During his rare moments away from Berkheimer, chances are you could find him humbly working in his beloved vegetable garden. He particularly enjoyed the annual spring ritual of watching his reluctant sons shovel loads of farm-fresh fertilizer into their garden and into the neighbors’ flower beds. A long-time supporter of youth sports, including Hobart Youth Basketball, Little League and Pop Warner, he remained an avid fan of high school and college basketball throughout his life. His numerous long term civic and charitable affiliations included the Hobart YMCA, First United Methodist Church of Hobart, Merrillville Rotary, and the M.L. McClelland Masonic Lodge. Visitation will be Friday, May 19, 2023, at Burns Funeral Home, 701 E. 7th Street, Hobart, IN 46342 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at Burns, Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with Funeral Service beginning at 11:00 a.m., Rev. Leah Peksenak officiating. Burial will follow at Calumet Park Cemetery, 2305 W. 73rd Avenue, Merrillville, IN 46410. A luncheon will follow at G.W. Berkheimer Co., Inc., 11200 Delaware Parkway, Crown Point, IN 46307 In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to your favorite charity. www.burnsfuneral.com.

E. Dale Cobble

January 31, 1929 - May 9, 2023