Dale Erwin Kuchenbecker
February 11, 1932 - December 02, 2018
Obituary
FITCHBURG/CHICAGO-Dale E. Kuchenbecker, age 86, passed away on Dec. 2, 2018, at Dobson Plaza Nursing Home in Chicago, Ill. Dale was born Feb. 2, 1932, in Neenah, Wis., to Erwin D. and Vila B. (Radloff) Kuchenbecker. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Neenah. Dale graduated from Neenah High School in 1950, ranked 17 in a class of 157. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served four years from 1951-1955 as a Radarman. Upon honorable discharge, Dale enrolled in the UW System and graduated from UW-Madison in May 1959. Dale then spent a long career working in the pension fund design field using his remarkable mathematical talents and memory.
Although much of Dale’s adult life was plagued by an undiagnosed debilitating physical ailment, he managed to develop and enjoy several hobbies and interests. He was an avid and successful stock market investor who loved reading business journals and newspapers. His almost photographic-type memory for numbers and keen sense of timing greatly facilitated his success. Dale also loved following sports of all types. He was a big fan of the Badgers, Packers, Brewers, Bucks, and all Chicago professional and college sports teams. He enjoyed listening to and watching games, reading sports news articles, and listening to sports talk radio. Dale also enjoyed almost daily walks to the Chicago local library and around his neighborhood to local grocery stores for exercise. He also loved shooting basketballs at a local playground. Dale was generous to many charitable causes despite living a very modest lifestyle himself.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin and Vila; and stepmother, Opal Kuchenbecker. He is survived by one sister, Vonnie; and one brother, Thomas; niece, Cindy; and nephews, Peter and Michael. He will be greatly missed by long time friend and business associate, Karen Gleicher Heisler; and by neighbor/close friend/caretaker, Sandra Vautesta.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to a charity of your choice. A Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, at 1 p.m. at GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH CHAPEL, 7291 Country Rd PD, Verona, Wis., with internment immediately following at the church columbarium. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Dale's heavenly spirit was more than ready to leave his earthly body.
Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608)442-5002
Events
Service
Sun Dec 16, 2018 @ 1:00 PM CDT
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Verona) • 7921 County Highway PD, Verona, WI null
Photos
No photos of Dale have been shared yet.
Memories
TK
Thomas Kuchenbecker
Other •
It's sad to lose my only brother but he led a very difficult and painful life. He was not happy being in his physical body, and it is a consolation to know his spirit has now left it for a much better place where there is peace, comfort, and joy.
VS
Vonnie Kuchenbecker Spies
Other •
As a younger sister, memories of Dale have been coming back as I remember our childhood days in Neenah, Wisconsin. He had a group of friends ( each with a nickname of course) His was " Palda" , and growing up in the 40's was a much different experience, as you can imagine. You walked back and forth to school, played outside all day, and early evenings under the street lights, and rode your bike wherever you wanted to go. Happy Times! In High School there were friends "Chubby" Thompson, Ron Bloom, Jack Marquette. He was about to enlist in the Marines with another friend, but was declined needing to have some type of surgery on his lower back, but then enlisted in the Navy.afterwards. ( in hindsight I believe this may have had something to do with his physical problems later in life)
Dale was a very faithful friend and interested in you as a person and what you were doing in your life. Sadly I didn't see Dale in person the last years when he was struggling with his pain. But when we talked on the phone and he was still able to get around, he enjoyed grocery shopping and would talk about the bargains and coupons he used that day. He also kept up on all the sports by listening to the radio, and knew all the teams and players and where they were ranked.
Finally Sandra came into his life. She cared for Dale, brought meals to him everyday and became a very valuable friend. He looked forward to her visits and Tom and I can't thank her enough for her kindness and attention.
Dale's family, relatives and those who knew him in later years will arrest to the fact that he was a good person, who never attained the future he was capable of having. God rest his soul. Vonnie
CS
Cindy Lou Smith
Other •
I was Uncle Dale's niece. I have memories of him from when I was young, although he did attend my wedding and did enjoy wandering around our yard in Redding, CT. He had a very dry sense of humor. Once when he was staying at our house in Weston when I was a teenager, our Airedale Kelley took a hotdog from him and he declared our place a Jungle. When I was very small I showed him pillbugs because I thought they were neat because they curled up into a ball and he told me they were a dime a dozen. Uncle Dale did enjoy crossword puzzles and I did buy him some over the years. In his later years I enrolled him in a Fruits of the Month club and I know he enjoyed that very much. Uncle Dale,rest in Peace. Cindy
MS
Michael Spies
Other •
I was one of Dale's nephew's and will always remember Dale cutting the rug with Florence at my wedding. It was great having him over our house in another visit to CT and I know how much he enjoyed the home cooked meal my wife made and catching up on sports. I always enjoyed talking sports with Dale and he always kept me abreast of the Chicago teams and Wisconsin Athletics. He also had a good handle on the teams I rooted for including Miami University and the Cradle of Coaches and while I hate to admit it, the New York Jets. While we may not have heard from Dale that much over the last few years, he clearly thought about us. As Tom shared with us some of his lasting wishes and thoughts, he touched each and everyone of us in a different way and left a legacy that will be forever treasured.