Dale Matthew Fockler died at his Columbia, SC home on March 31, 2018 after a long bout with cancer. He was 82 years old.

Dale was born in Missaukee County near Lake City, Michigan on August 17, 1935 to Lloyd (Slim) and Frances (Becker) Fockler. He was raised on the family dairy farm near Merritt and graduated from Merritt Agricultural High School in 1953. After attending Central Michigan University he served two years in the United States Army, primarily in the Fort Benning, Georgia Headquarters Building. Following his Army service he worked for two years at the Houghton Lake Branch of the Roscommon State Bank then four years at the Lake City State Bank. In 1964 he began a twenty-five year career as a State Bank Examiner, serving the latter fourteen years as Regional Supervisor in charge of safety and soundness of all Northern Michigan State Chartered Banks.

He retired from State Government in 1989.

Amongst his many and varied occupations; he owned and operated the Hollywood Bar in Lake City, served in numerous positions with the Lake City Masonic Lodge of which he was a life member, served as a Missaukee County Commissioner, was the President of the Lake City Eagles for nearly six years and in the early sixties served as the secretary-treasurer of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce. He was a licensed private investigator, insurance agent and an Ordained Minister. He ministered at and performed many funeral and memorial services for friends and neighbors. He was a member of the Merritt-Butterfield United Methodist Church; But truly, just a “Tractor Jockey” at heart.

Survivors include his wife Shelly, three sons: Stephen Dale (Cheryl) of Lake City, Matthew Bruce (Olga) of Howard City and Paul Dean (James) of Woodward, Oklahoma and one daughter: Shellon Rene’ North of Lake City. He is also survived by one sister: Deloris Eicke of The Colony, Texas, two brothers: Ed (Alice) of DeRidder, Louisiana and Bob of Lakeland, FL and one aunt Beatrice Becker of Lake City. Also surviving him are two step-sons: Joshua Sundell of Lake City and Nathan Sundell of Columbia, South Carolina, one step-daughter: Lisa Finn of Farwell, sixteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, cousins and their children. His first wife, Phyllis Fockler, also survives him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Slim and Frances, and two brothers: Doyle and Michael and son in law, Bob North.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 6, 2018 at the Young Funeral Home, in Lake City. Masonic Services will be conducted with Master Mason Nathan Sundell officiating.

A time of visitation will be Thursday, April 5, 2018 from 5:00 until 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Burial will take place in the Lake City Cemetery with the Lake City American Legion Post 300 providing Military Honors.

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