Dale Kuivanen

Dale E. Kuivanen, age 68, passed away on Friday January 22, 2016 at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. Dale was born in Milwaukee on March 11, 1947, son of the late Toivo and Selda (nee: Johnson) Kuivanen.

Dale graduated from Oak Creek High School “Class of 1966” and attended Briggs and Stratton Business School. He proudly served in the United States Navy. A self-employed carpenter, Dale was a jack of all trades. After moving to Wakefield in 1974 and Bergland in 1986, Dale immersed himself in the local scene by getting involved as a member of the Wakefield American Legion Post 0011, Bergland Township Volunteer Fire Department- Assistant Chief, Gogebic Area Grooming Association (current president), Walleyes for Tomorrow, MI-TRALE, Ontonagon County Recreational Advisory Group, Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce (recipient of the “2015 Member of the Year Award”), and was instrumental in running the Chamber fishing contests. Dale was currently the Bergland Township Supervisor. An avid outdoorsman, Kuivi loved hunting, fishing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, riding ATVs, traveling, and wanted to be a tourist when he grew up. Kuivi will be remembered fondly for his generosity, his great sense of humor and his legendary master craftsmanship of cardboard boats.

Dale will be dearly missed by his fiancée and housekeeper of twenty-seven years, Pat MacArthur; sisters, Arlene (John) Londerville, Cathy Wettberg; nieces and nephews, Amy (Paul) Literski, Jennifer (Pat) Saxe, Brooke Sholar (Ron Sparks), Vince Wettberg; great niece and great nephew, Adam and Kasey Literski; and numerous cousins, other relatives and many, many dear friends.

A memorial snowmobile ride will be held on Saturday, February 13 from the Bergland Bay Bar around Lake Gogebic and finishing at the Hoop N’ Holler Tavern.

A Celebration of Dale’s Life will be held at a later date. Please bring your favorite Kuivi stories to share, and even though you may want to shed some tears, please heed his advice and “Don’t get emotional”.