Dale Robert Bacon, born in the town of Emett, WI on February 15, 1942 was welcomed to his Heavenly home by his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 while in the care of St. Clare’s Hospital, Weston with his wife and children by his side.
Dale was the oldest of twelve children of the late Cecil Bacon and Pauline (Barthels) Bacon. He grew up on a dairy farm and loved to walk in the woods with his dogs when he wasn’t doing chores. He graduated from Marathon High School in 1960. Following high school, Dale served in the United States Army from 1961 until 1964.
On October 10, 1964 he married Christine (Johnson) at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wausau. They began their married life together living first in Rothschild and then Weston. Dale worked at Gardner Baking Company as a route salesman. A ‘farm boy’ at heart and always a hard worker, in 1979 he moved his young family to a more rural setting in the town of Pine River where he had a small hobby farm for many years while still working full-time for Gardner Baking Company. His hobby farm included cows, pigs, a horse and, always, dogs. He worked many hours doing both, but being around the animals and walking in his field and woods with his dogs, as he did when he was a boy, was something that brought him much joy. He also enjoyed deer hunting with his children and grandsons throughout his life. Dale was very talented in that he could fix most anything with an engine and did much of his own work on the cars, trucks or tractors he owned during his life. When his children suspected something wrong with their own vehicles, they always went to dad first for the initial diagnosis. He always tried to help in whatever way he could not only with vehicles, but whenever they needed him. He retired from Gardner Baking Company in 2004 after 37 years with the company.
During his retirement years, he enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing and going up north to Eagle River and Upper Michigan with his children and grandchildren. He always enjoyed being home ‘in the country’, however, and would often be by his kitchen window early in the morning with his coffee looking out to see what wildlife might be out there. He liked to watch TV, listen to country music, walk with his dogs, and play cards. He enjoyed learning a new technology, the computer, as well.
Dale is survived by his wife, Christine. They recently celebrated 50 years of marriage together. He is also survived by their four children and grandchildren: Mary Ball (Tom) and their children Michael, Eric, Aidan, Katy and Brian; Marie Bacon and her daughter, Makayla Sutherland; Dale Bacon, Jr.; and Vicky Bartz (Jeff) and their children Ryan, Jamie and Dakota. He is also survived by his brothers, sisters; Nancy (Joe) Rohmayer, Karen (Lenny) Simonson, Frank Bacon, Clifford (Pam) Bacon, Linda (Harvey) Ohde, Duane Bacon, Mark “Sparky” (Janice) Bacon, Jerry Bacon, David Bacon, & Beverly (Donald) Tessmer and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Robert; his sister Patricia; and his parents.
Waid Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. A celebration of Dale’s life will be held Tuesday, April 7 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Waid Funeral Home. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 am on Wednesday, April 8 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Merrill. Father Mike McClain will officiate. Burial will follow the Mass at the church cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.waidfuneral.com .
Dale would want to acknowledge, as does his family, the many people who provided amazing, compassionate care for him during his illnesses when he couldn’t be at home. A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the doctors and staff at Good Samaritan Hospital; St. Clare’s Hospital; Marshfield Clinic-Merrill Center, particularly Dr. Jeff Moore; and, Marshfield Clinic-Weston Center. Special thanks, too, to the many people at Pine Crest Nursing Home for the wonderful care he received during his rehabilitative stays there.
How do you sum up a person’s life and the memories they leave behind? Family and friends can only move forward with tears of joy and sadness, happy memories and the love we shared believing that, one day, we will all meet again. The words of St. John comfort us: “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy (John 16:22).”