Karl Dishman

A person’s life is remembered by whom they were, where they are from, what they accomplished, and the impact they had on others. Michael was the oldest of seven children and his life can be described as a non-ending lifetime of one adventure after another. He graduated from St. Edmond High School in 1966 in Fort Dodge. He had a deep passion for team sports and excelled in football, basketball, and baseball in high school. He also coached youth baseball and basketball teams in his hometown.

He graduated from Creighton University in 1970 with a BSBA degree and majored in Marketing. While at Creighton, he served as Class President, was a member of the All-University Student Board of Governors, a member of Delta Sigma Pi fraternity, and was selected to “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.” He also attended the Creighton University School of Law for one year.

After graduating from Creighton, Michael completed his Military basic training at Fort Riley, KS where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U. S. Army – Infantry. He was a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course in Fort Benning, GA. He completed his military service after serving as a training officer for the 22nd U.S. Cavalry unit at the U. S. Army Reserve unit in Omaha, NE.

Michael spent the majority of his career in Business Development, Sales, Chambers of Commerce, Marketing & Communications, Strategic Planning, and Fundraising positions. He worked at Valmont Industries, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and the Omaha Airport Authority. He was the founder of the Greater Omaha Small Business Council. He served as Nebraska State Chairman for the first National White House Conference on Small Business and was twice selected as one of Ten Outstanding Young Omahans by the Omaha Jaycees.

Michael was recruited in 1990 to move to Oklahoma by Tulsa Mayor Rodger Randle to serve as the first Aerospace Development Director for the Tulsa Airport Authority, the City of Tulsa, and the Metro Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. He was the Founder of the Aerospace Alliance of Tulsa, the Tulsa Airport Ambassadors, the Tulsa Travel Agent Association, and the Tulsa Aviation Education Alliance. He served as Chairman of the Aerospace Division for the United Way of Tulsa campaign and raised over $2 million.

Michael served for nearly 10 years as the Divisional Development Director for The Salvation Army’s Arkansas-Oklahoma Division. He was the Founder of an Annual Charity Golf Tournament to raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Tulsa. He was also inducted into the Hugh O’Brien Youth Foundation Hall of Fame in recognition of his service to youth.

Michael’s passions were playing golf, watching and attending college and local high school football games, working with tools in his workshop and attending St. Bernard’s of Clairvaux church. He had two children, Jason Michael Dishman of Omaha, NE, and Allyson Marie Dishman of Tulsa, OK.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents Roy & Donna Marie Dishman, sisters Karen Ann Husske and Linda Goodno, brothers John Bryan Dishman, James Dishman, Kevin Merle Dishman, and his infant daughter Stephanie Mary Dishman. He will be buried next to his parents in Iowa.

There will be an informal gathering to share memories and celebrate Michael's life on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the RiverCrest Chapel and Event Center, Bixby.