WATERLOO - Dale Gardner Phelps, M.D., 69, of Waterloo, died Monday, April 13, at his home.

He was born Jan. 1, 1940, in San Antonio, son of Dr. Gardner and Virginia Kuning Phelps. He married Margaret Ann Ellsworth in 1966. They were later divorced. He later married Dianne Pals on April 16, 1988, in Waterloo.

He graduated from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1964 and trained in internship at Santa Clara County Medical Center, San Jose, Calif., from 1964-65. His general surgery residency was with Saint Joseph's Hospital, San Francisco, from 1968-69, and his orthopaedic residency at the University of Nebraska from 1969-1972.

He came to Waterloo in 1967 and practiced in the office of Dr. Craig Ellison for a year. He was board certified in orthopaedic surgery in 1973. He became a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1976 and was on staff at Allen Memorial Hospital and courtesy staff at Schoitz Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Sartori Hospital. He was past president of the Allen Staff Board.

Dr. Phelps was a service unit director in public health services with the U.S. military, taking a tour of duty in the Pacific Theatre. He later spent a year with the Souix Indians on the Rosebud Reservation in Chamberlain, S.D.

Survived by: his wife; two daughters, Kathleen (Robert) Morrison Phelps O'Connor of Needham, Mass., and Carmen (Nathaniel) Kuning Maendel of Colorado Springs, Colo.; a son, Jim Tran Phelps of Irvine, Calif.; six grandchildren, Matthew, Justin and Julian Phelps, Liam and Brigid O'Connor and Joshua John Maendel; his mother, Virginia Phelps of Waterloo; two brothers, Dr. Gary Kuning Phelps of Queensland, Australia, and Dr. Laurence Michael Phelps of Rock Springs, Wis.

Preceded in death by: his father; and a brother, Dr. Charles Dexter Phelps.

Celebration of life: 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway assisted the family.

Memorials: may be directed to the Phelps Pavillion.

Condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com.