Obituaries

Dale Drew Whalen

1938-2015

LELAND - Dale Whalen passed away in Cleveland, Ohio on May 21, 2015 from complications from a lung transplant.  He was born in Flint, Michigan on October 4, 1938, to Martin and Alice (Shreve) Whalen.  He graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1956 and completed courses at the General Motors Institute through 1959.  Dale served his country with six years in the Michigan National Guard.  He married his friend, Katherine (Kit) Kelly, on August 5, 1961.

He started work with General Motors as a die maker apprentice at Fisher Body Grand Blanc.  Over the next 42 years, he was promoted to tool and die supervisor, general supervisor, pressroom planner, plant superintendent, and senior manufacturing engineer.

Dale and his wife, Kit, raised four sons in the Grand Blanc community where he was actively involved in youth sports, Boy Scouts of America, and Kirkridge Presbyterian Church.  He was also the president of the PTO at Cook Elementary School.

They retired to a home he built in Leland, Michigan in 1998 where he was a Leland Harbor commissioner, Leland Community United Methodist Church trustee, and a member of the Leelanau Artists’ Group.  He was involved in the renovation of the Inland Seas building.  When he wasn’t spending time with his family and grandchildren, Dale enjoyed fishing, golf, boating, skiing, woodworking, watercolor painting and drawing, and his role as the local handyman always wanting to help.  He and Kit were active members of the Leland Community United Methodist Church.

Dale is survived by his beloved wife, his sons Kent (Susan), Kirk (Sue), Kory (Tracy) and Kelly (Heather), a brother Marlin, a sister Sally Keel, and 11 grandchildren: Kelsi, Michael, Kaitlyn, Benjamin, Noah, Meagan, Drew, Sam, Connor, Abby, and Lily.

A memorial service is planned for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at the Leland Community United Methodist Church.  The family will be receiving friends after 12:00 p.m. at the church. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Inland Seas Education Association, P.O. Box 218, Suttons Bay, MI  49682-0218, Leland Community United Methodist Church, PO Box 602, Leland, MI  49654, or Leland Community Cultural Center, PO Box 883, Leland, MI  49654.

Dale lived a rich and full 76 years.  May he rest in peace.

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