Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MILWAUKEE - Dale E. Kuivanen, 68, passed away on Friday Jan. 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 with the class of 1966 and attended Briggs and Stratton Business School. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy. A self-employed carpenter, Dale was a jack of all trades.
After moving to Wakefield, Mich., in 1974 and Bergland, Mich., in 1986, Dale immersed himself in the local scene by getting involved as a member of the Wakefield American Legion Post 11, Bergland Township Volunteer Fire Department as Assistant Chief, Gogebic Area Grooming Association as 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's 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 27 years, Pat MacArthur; sisters, Arlene (John) Londerville and Cathy Wettberg; nieces and nephews, Amy (Paul) Literski, Jennifer (Pat) Saxe, Brooke Sholar (Ron Sparks) and 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, Feb. 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."
Maresh-Meredith and Acklam Funeral Home of Racine, Wis., is in charge of arrangements. Please send condolences to meredithfuneralhome.com
