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Dale B. Monday Sr.
Died Jan. 24, 2015
SUTTONS
BAY – Dale B. Monday Sr., aka “Grampa Cheezhead”, 83, of Suttons Bay, beloved
by his family, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 at Munson Medical Center.
Dale was born on Aug. 16, 1931 in
Bakersfield, CA, to Dennis L. and Carolyn P. Monday. Dale grew up in Bakersfield and loved his
native state. He attended Bakersfield
High School and in his teens became an ambulance attendant and also fought
brush fires in the surrounding hills.
Dale honorably and proudly served his country
for four years in the United States Air Force.
His final orders brought him to Duluth, MN, where he met and married the
former Elaine M. Scharte of Superior, WI.
They raised ten children.
Dale was a firefighter with the city of
Superior Fire Department and owned Monday’s Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. He enjoyed motorcycle racing and
hillclimbing, snowmobiling, boating, and waterskiing. For several years he coached his sons in
baseball and hockey. His daughters
especially enjoyed their time together while sharing his passions for boating,
wildlife and nature. There were frequent
excursions to the Milwaukee Museum of History, the journey was enhanced by
stopping at what he called “Histerical Markers” along the way.
Dale moved to Appleton, WI, where he was
general manager, and then owned, Appleton Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. In Appleton he met and married the former
Joan C. Hintze of Appleton. They were
married for 39 years. In 1984 they moved
to Michigan to the Traverse City area, where, Joanie had been a “cottage
kid.” Dale loved the area and especially
Grand Traverse Bay where he and Joanie made their home. Dale was a salesman for Les Hatch car
dealership for several years and had many interests. He was an avid reader and student of Native
American cultures. He enjoyed the study
of the Great Lakes shipping and lake boat history. He collected Great Lakes china, memorabilia,
and books for many years.
Throughout his adult life, Dale was an avid
Green Bay Packer fan and was endearingly known to friends and family alike as
“Grampa Cheezhead.” On his 75th
birthday his grandchildren honored him with a memorial brick embedded in a
walkway at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI.
Dale is survived by his loving wife, Joanie
C. Monday of Suttons Bay; his children, John A. (Annette) Engelman of Green
Cove Springs, FL, Susan E. (Larry) Sajec of Bradenton, FL, Dale B. Jr. (Jamie)
Monday of Appleton, WI, Dennis L. (Judi) Monday of Appleton, WI, Thomas P.
“Todd” Monday of Granby, CO, Julie A. (Bill) Buss of Little Chute, WI, Jill E.
(Michael) Kohlwey of Granby, CO, James C. Monday of Appleton, WI, and Jane A.
(David) Jacques of Roswell, GA; 32 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren; and 1
great-great grandchild; sister, JoAnn Cavin of Elk Grove, CA; several sisters
and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father,
Dennis L. Monday in 1937; his mother Carolyn P. Monday Tubbs in 1996; his
children’s mother Elaine M. Monday; son, Kenneth E. Engelman Jr; granddaughter,
Kathy Engelman; sister, Pauline V. Utt; brothers in law, Alfred “Jiggs” Utt,
Arthur J. Scharte; nephew, Guy Utt; and friend and mentor, Raymond A. Decker.
The family wishes to extend their thanks to
Dr. S. Lee Warnaar, VA Nurse Practitioner, Kim Lefler, Munson Medical Center,
Munson Home Healthcare and Private Duty.
Dale was a loving husband, father,
grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather, brother,
brother-in-law, uncle and friend. He was
gregarious and entertaining, often telling humorous stories about his
life. We will miss you and you will be
forever in our hearts. We are so glad we
were part of "The Dance…Your Dance."
A memorial tribute will take place on
Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015 at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay, with
visitation with the family held from 1 to 3 p.m., and a memorial tribute will
follow beginning at 3 p.m.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may
wish to consider the Suttons Bay Area Library, P.O. Box 340, Suttons Bay, MI
49682.
Please share memories with Dale’s family below.
Dale Sr. made us smile. My friends and I would visit Dale Jr. at the Appleton Harley Shop back in 1972. We owned Yamaha motorcycles and were visiting a Harley Davidson shop (not cool). We would kid Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. about oil leaks under the new showroom Harley's just to get a reaction from both of them. After we finished our visit to the shop, and head out to our cycles to leave, we found a surprise. Dale Sr. snuck out earlier and put "Rice" under our cycles before we got there to indicate our cycles (made in Japan) leaked rice. I guess the joke was on us. Big Smiles by all. You are in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteDear Joanie, and entire Monday Family,
ReplyDeleteMy wife Deanna and I were very sorry to learn so late of Dale's passing. He was a fun and intelligent gentleman. We were HONORED to be invited to travel up to the home on the bluff to visit and discuss everything related to the ships of the Great Lakes. Deanna and I were always thrilled with the variety of birds that would come to feed on the deck too. Dale seemed to really enjoy all the wildlife of the area.
For may years to come, we will recall fondly our visits whenever we show other historians the many steamship brochures, timetables, and souvenir spoons we traded for and purchased from Dale. And we smile whenever we see neat old hand stitched towels Joanie!
God's blessings for all of you who will miss Dale so deeply. We will always remember him with warm hearts.
Cheers,
Andy & Deanna Whitman
16424 Sherwood Lane
Woodhaven, MI 498183