Dear Friends, 
Our family thanks all of you so much for your prayers during Dale's illness, your condolences at his death, and your continued love and support. His Celebration of Life was just that: wonderful stories of how he touched your lives.  It helps to know that this special husband, father, and friend will live on in the many ways he inspired and influenced others.  
Jackie, Karl, Erik (Jackie & Elowyn), and Nikolaus

Dale is one of the very few friends I had at Cal State Long Beach. I remember his ceramics studies were going along just fine until the instructor wanted him to throw the clay against the wall, and Dale decided that this was not for him, so Dale switched majors to computer science. 

Dale made a set of ceramic tumblers that I still use nearly every day. He is one of the few friends I have kept up with through the years, although I only visited a couple of times in Apex. I miss him.

I first met Dale when I moved from Southern California to Cary to join IBM in 1988. I was the new guy on the team with most of everyone else from Boca Raton.  I shared an office with Paul Liskay right next to Dale. Dale and I chatted quite often. We had a common bond with our CA backgrounds and his friendship made my adjustment to NC that much easier.  Although our careers ultimately took different paths, I would occasionally see him around the office and reminisce the early Cary days.

“Dealin Dale” was also a wizard with real estate.  I learned so much from him when I bought my first house. 

I’m sorry I won’t be in town for his Celebration of Life. My thoughts and prayers are with Jackie and the family.

Rest in peace Dale

Dale was one of the first people I met upon joining IBM  Entry Systems Division in Boca Raton in 1983 - he was the cool, brilliant California guy and I so enjoyed being his friend! We worked on several projects together where Dale used his expertise and dry wit  to encourage everyone around him to create the best product.  
However,  his capstone project was securing the love of Jackie - one of the loveliest and most caring people I have ever known! 

"Dalesman" - I will miss you! 

Warmly,
Amy

We are so sorry to hear of Dale's passing. Unfortunately, we will be out of the country June 24, but will have your family in our thoughts.
Claire and Don Block, former Apex neighbors.

Dale and Jackie were wonderful neighbors and friends.  We got to watch their boys grow up surrounded by loving and caring parents.   We have great memories of wonderful neighborhood parties, the Nilsson annual Christmas party. and occasionally beach get togethers.   I will miss seeing Dale at Lochmere playing golf with his friends.  We would catch up on our families and laugh about  good times from the neighborhood.  

Jackie - if you need me to help in any way for the Celebration of Life ceremony please let me know.   We’ll be there.  

You and the family are in our thoughts and prayers as you go through this very difficult time.  

RIP to our friend Dale.

John & Diane Peach

The world feels a little quieter without you here. Dale Rest easy, my friend—your memory lives on in all of us. 

I have good memories from your visits to Sweden.

Rick Florestedt 
Friend from Huntington Beach High School

I met Dale at IBM when our paths crossed on the Rational team where we worked on several projects together. Dale was a kind and brilliant soul who always had a smile on his face. I was shocked to hear of his passing and send my sincere condolences to his family and all of the friends and acquaintances he touched in his lifetime.

Dear family and friends of Dale, I am so sorry for your loss.

Dear Jackie and Boys:     Please know that you’ll are in Judy and Bill’s prayers  during this difficult time;  We had some good times with Dale during our time living in Shepherds Vineyard…He was always willing to help in any he could….enjoyed our Shepherd’s Vinyard golf tournments that he always managed and supervised…Sorry we will be unable to attend his service but will be there in thoughts and prayers….  Bill and Judy Long,'

Uncle Dale you were always kind and full of wisdom. I'm so sorry for what you've had to endure and I pray you are at peace and know how loved and admired you were by all who knew you.

We were friends since 1985, maybe 1984.  Dale, Jackie, myself were on the same team just starting out with IBM.  By 1986 IBM decided to close down the Boca plant and gave our team a choice to either go to Cary with Software Group or to Austin to with the OS/2 group.  

Most of us chose Cary I think and we continued to work together at Regency Park. 

At one time he was my manager on the canceled Node Patrol product.  That's when our career paths diverged.  I went to Tivoli and then Rational, then got absorbed by HCL.  

Dale's always been spontaneous, willing to try new things.   One was the famous couch trip.  My sister in Indiana had a used couch, I had my old blue Toyota,  the couch would fit, gas was cheap.  We did a road trip from  Cary to Indianapolis driving all night and then back the next morning.   Totally nuts, but it was an adventure.

Then the 2017 eclipse.   Just by chance I had that week off as vacation and the eclipse was in the news and not far from Raleigh.  My plan was to just wake up, drive south a few hours until I got into the totality zone, then drive back.  Then mentioned the eclipse to Dale.  Made a road trip out of it.  We ended up at the beach house the night before and a Walmart parking lot somewhere in South Carolina for the actual eclipse.   
We've done a lot of things together.  

Dale's always been helpful, especially if wanted to ask financial advise, home repair, real estate questions.  He never turned down a request for help.  If he didn't know how to do something he had list of contacts that could, handyman, etc.

Dale and Carl helped move from Raleigh to Florida in March 2023 hauling a UHual trailer with his big white truck (I nicknamed it "Great White").  It was a good adventure.

Then last year I spent a day or so with Dale at the mountain cabin.   I thoroughly enjoyed that visit. Dale was my longest life long friend, over 41 years.  Lots of good times and memories. Dale will be sorely missed.

The joy we experience in life is directly related to the people we are blessed to share it with. Some friends are for a season and some are for a lifetime, and I am grateful for my lifelong friendship with Dale and his family. Dale and Jackie came into my life during my years at IBM. About 20 of us accepted a mission move to Cary, NC and you can imagine how we all bonded as we adjusted to our new home in NC. I managed part of this team, and my philosophy was to work hard while having fun...and we accomplished both goals. Crazy fun times at our lakefront home along with ski weekends in the mountains....yes Dale convinced us at age 30 to learn how to ski. We became parents at the same time, and our boys shared so many fun times together. 

Despite my leaving NC to head out to CA, we remained friends for over 40 years, with Dale always taking the time to visit over the years, which always meant the world to me. Dale is someone I will always have fond memories of....his loving soul and joyful spirit always filled my life with happiness and great memories. His memory will remain as a shining light in my life forever....may he rest in peace

I did not spend a lot of time with Dale but the time we did was great His wife Jackie and Dale are my favorite People of All Time
 Dale will be missed greatly by me his family and friends
Dale will be remembered by all
dale had a great Life Great WIFE And Great Sons and Family

I worked with Dale and Jackie way back then.  We all were starting our IBM careers and were on the same team on PC software around 1984 to summer of 1986 before IBM offered to relocate the team to either Cary or Austin.    Most of us moved to Cary in '86

Jackie and family,

While I never had a chance to personally meet Dale, I loved hearing stories about him and the family during the many times Jackie and I gathered to make greeting cards. I have you in my prayers and on my heart as you share memories to ease the loss of Dale. 

Until you meet again, 
Chaille

OBITUARY

Dale Robert Nilsson

May 26, 1959 – May 20, 2026

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