Dale Merle Davis

Dale Merle Davis, 87, of Chetek, Wisconsin, passed away September 15, 2012.  Dale was born in Chetek, Wisconsin, the son of the late Merle and Edna Davis. He attended Sioux Creek School at rural Chetek.  His childhood occurred during the Great Depression which instilled in him the virtues of hard work and the importance of family.  At the age of eighteen, Dale was inducted into the United States Navy and served his country aboard the USS Porter DD800 during WWII in the South Pacific, participating in numerous wartime engagements.  As part of the Greatest Generation, he served without expectations.  Upon honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946, Dale married Jeanette Gunderman of Dallas, Wisconsin and raised one son, Lynn.  Dale and his family engaged in dairy farming at rural Chetek (Sioux Creek Township).  Their farming activities spanned over four decades from the late stages of horse drawn equipment to the advent of today’s modern technology.  Dale embraced modern farming practices and was a responsible steward of the land.
Following retirement in 1989, he and his wife moved to the City of Chetek where they enjoyed sharing picturesque views of Prairie Lake from their front room with visiting family and friends.  Dale worked part time for the Barron County Office On Aging. He drove the Chetek van for senior citizens and delivered meals on wheels.  He took great satisfaction from these activities. Dale also took pleasure from caring for his yard and garden overlooking the lake.  He maintained the friendships of his neighbors from the Sioux Creek farming community and made new friends in Chetek. He enjoyed deer hunting in the fall and fishing in all seasons.  He also enjoyed entertaining his five granddaughters and taught them to fish and supervised their swimming activities at his lakeshore. In recent years, Dale was the care provider for his loving wife of 65 years at their home until Jeanette’s passing in 2011.
Dale is survived by his son, Lynn and daughter-in-law Catherine, Neenah, Wisconsin; five granddaughters, Constance, Washington, D.C., Erin, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Janelle, Fort Collins, Colorado and Christine and Blair, Ames, Iowa and one sister, Evelyn McCullum, Chetek, Wisconsin.  Additionally, he is survived by sisters-in law, Goldie Gunderman and Billie Gunderman, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and Ilene Gunderman, Chetek, Wisconsin.  He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by loving wife, Jeanette (October 1, 2011), and sisters, Lorraine Nelson and Adeline Dodge.
Visitation is scheduled from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M., Sunday, September 23, 2012 at Burnham-Ours Funeral Home, 206 Schofield Street, Chetek, Wisconsin and again on Monday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass at 11:00 a.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 24, 2012 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Chetek. Mass will be officiated by Father Jim Bartelme. Dale will be laid to rest alongside his wife Jeanette at St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery following the Mass. Military Honors will be provided by American Legion Post 179. Casketbearers will be: Constance, Erin, Janelle, Christine, and Blair Davis, Lou Ann Gilberts, and Julia Jacobsen. Dale’s family wishes to invite their guests to return to the church for fellowship and lunch following the cemetery service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dale’s name may be directed to the Barron County Office on Aging Meals on Wheels Program.
To express online condolences to the family, please visit www.burnhamours.com.
The Burnham-Ours Funeral Home of Chetek has been entrusted with arrangements.

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