Dale Fox

Enthusiastic and good-natured, Dale L. Fox was a big-hearted man who looked for ways to help others. His generous and gentle demeanor earned him the respect of those around him and his laughter could quickly put others at ease. He had strong opinions and was not afraid to express them, but he thought of others first and was considerate of their feelings. A dedicated husband and father, he adored his family and made sure that they knew it.

Born in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 29, 1942, Dale was the son of Lawrence and Dorothy (Brown) Fox. He lived in Midland until the age of six when, tragically, his father died. Dale, his twin sister Gale and their mother moved to Mason County where Dorothy had found a job and settled in Scottville, a small town with plenty of opportunities for a boy to find adventure in the woods and surrounding water ways.

Everything Dale did was done with gusto. He took up the trumpet as a teenager and landed a spot on the Scottville Clown Band, a group of musicians which had entertained all over the state since 1903, with the exception of a few years during and after World War II. Dale thrived on the energy and fun atmosphere of the group, and remained a member for over twenty-five years. He loved the fact that the group contributed to local youth music programs, desiring others to find the same joy that he had through playing. Dale also played football for Scottville High School and was the “star” center. He graduated with the class of 1960.

While Dale was growing into a young man, the world was changing as well and unrest lurked in seemingly every corner. Desegregation was being implemented in the South, the Cold War was in full swing, and the eyes of the world were on Southeast Asia. Dale, always looking for ways to contribute, joined the Army in 1962 and served his country proudly for four years. He was sent to Vietnam in 1965, first as a medic for the 57th Air Ambulance Service Evacuation Helicopter Squadron, and then as a lab and x-ray technician at the 93rd Evac Hospital. Dale spent eleven months and six days in Vietnam and counted himself fortunate to return home.

After his military discharge, Dale moved back home to Scottville where he continued to work as a lab and x-ray technician for several years. In 1975, he took on a new challenge working in Manistee as the store manager for Miller Brothers Iron & Metal. He stayed there for many years, even after the company was sold and became Lake Welding, remaining a faithful and reliable employee until his health forced him to retire in 2000.

Dale attended the Scottville United Methodist Church and enjoyed participating in their choir, again finding joy in expressing himself through music. Dale was seated next to a gentleman who had a sister that he thought Dale might hit it off with. He introduced Dale to Irma, and the occasion proved Irma's brother right. Irma had a daughter named Kathy, and Dale willingly and easily took on the role of fatherhood. Dale and Irma were married in Lakeland Reformed Church on Sweetest Day, October 17, 1981, and Dale adopted Kathy immediately. The new family established their home in Manistee.

Dale wanted to help people and made community service an integral part of his life. He was past master of Masonic Lodge 445 in Scottville, and was a Shriner with Knights Templers in Traverse City, Shrine Saladin Temple in Grand Rapids, and Forest Shrine Club in Manistee. He was twice past patron of the Order of the Eastern Star #237 of Scottville, a past president of the Scottville Jaycees, and a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Manistee. He also served as commissioner for the Scottville City Commission.

Dale devoted his life to family and community, but everything he did was with passion, even if they were just hobbies. He loved football and Saturdays were glorious when the University of Michigan was playing. Woe to any teams unlucky enough to be pitted against his Wolverines. He was also a season ticket holder for the Western Michigan Broncos. Sometimes the weather forced him to stay inside, and on those occasions his remote was never far from his side. He had a huge collection of John Wayne movies and enjoyed other types of films as well.

His upbringing in the fresh air and wide open spaces stayed with him throughout his life and he was a natural outdoorsman, spending countless hours fishing on Lake Michigan and deer hunting. He also loved to golf and was a member of the Manistee Golf & Country Club, taking to the course every chance he got. He had once coached a girls' softball team, which he felt gave him unlimited credibility for the rest of his life as he dispensed coaching advice to any kid that would listen. He attended all of his nieces' and nephews' sporting events, showing them how much he cared by cheering enthusiastically, but mostly just by being there.

Dale had some heart problems in later years, and on May 18, 2000, he endured a third massive heart attack, one that caused irreparable damage. Dale was placed on the heart transplant list, and although Dale and Irma loved their life on the lake in Manistee, they decided they needed to be closer to the critical heart doctors available in Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor. Irma had lived in Portage many years before, and that was where they set up their new home. They kept their home in Manistee, however, and visited frequently, providing Dale with the peacefulness found only in the northern woods.

Dale was very proud of his grandchildren and he loved Jack and Grace beyond measure, despite the miles that separated them. He loved wholeheartedly without holding back, and in fact Irma reflected that perhaps his fierce love was too strong for his physical heart to hold. Dale's heart finally rested in the sweet northern air that he loved so much, leaving his family with the assurance that he cherished each one and the example of a man who was willing to give what he had in order to make the world a better place.

Dale died on Thursday, May 26, 2005. Members of Dale's family include his loving wife of twenty-three years, Irma, his daughter, Kathy & John Martin of Los Angeles, his beloved grandchildren, John “Jack” Fox Martin and Grace Katharine Martin, his twin sister, Gail and William Partrich of Colorado Springs, CO, his brother-in-law, Ed and Pat Gasaway of Vicksburg, his sisters-in-law, Edie and Dave Weyenberg of Vicksburg and Terri Gasaway of Grand Haven, several cherished nieces and nephews, and many precious grandnieces and grandnephews.

Learn more about Dale, view his Life Story film, and visit with his family and friends on Monday, May 30, from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. at the RDMG Life Story Funeral Home, Portage Chapel. Life Story funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, at Lakeland Reformed Church. Please visit Dale's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory, order flowers, or make a memorial donation to the Make-a-Wish Foundation or Shriners Childrens Hospital.