Dale W. Bachelor

Dale W. Bachelor, 83 of Boyne City, died December 15, 2018 at the Grandvue Medical Care Facility in East Jordan.

Dale was born on November 30, 1935 in Montrose, MI, the son of Hubert and Doris (Reed) Bachelor and was raised in Fairgrove and Montrose until the age of 10 when the family moved to Petoskey.  Dale graduated from Petoskey High School with the Class of 1953 before attending and graduating from Michigan State University.

On February 22, 1958, Dale married the love of his life, Nancy Cotanche, in Petoskey.  Dale taught agriculture in Vermontville and in Harbor Springs before the family in 1960 moved to the Hudsonville area. He then went to work for Smith-Douglass Fertilizer in Holland, Michigan, and was there for 38 years before retiring as Chief of Marketing from the area in 1998.  He returned to Petoskey upon his retirement and to his current home on Walloon Lake in 2000.

He enjoyed fishing, boating, golf and loved playing softball.  He played as pitcher in most cases.  He played on a championship winning intramural team in college, as well as playing in the local church league.  He was also known for his homerun that he hit into the lake while playing for the Fotchman team.

He was a dedicated member of the First Christian Church of Petoskey and served in almost all positions of the church, except that of minister.  He was also a Life-Member of the Fraternal Order of Oddfellows.

Dale was one of the most genuinely decent people you could ever hope to meet.  He always had a smile on his face and was known for his sense of humor. 

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; 5 children, Sam (Reenie) Bachelor, Elizabeth Pruitt, Jennifer (Scott) Hayes, Jeffrey Bachelor, and Jay Bachelor; 9 grandchildren, Phillip, Jay, Sarah, Nick, Tyler, Paige, Blake, Kelly, and Ashlee; 3 great grandchildren, Braxton, Emma, and Ava; sister, Marilyn Burrows and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents and by 6 siblings.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 25, 2019, at the First Christian Church in Petoskey. Dale's family will begin to receive friends at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m.

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