Dale M. Schmieding

Dale M. Schmieding, 66, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2005 at home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Franz J. Brandenburg officiating. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may call from 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or Animal Aid. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Schmieding was born April 24, 1938 in Grand Rapids to Walter E. & Constance (Melven) Schmieding. Dale served his country in the United States Air Force. On May 1, 1976, he married the former Margaret Wagner in Benton Harbor. Dale was formerly employed by Shephard Casters. In 1973 he joined Weldon International in Bridgman, retiring in 1998 as project manager. Dale was a member of the Benton Harbor Moose Lodge, and was past president of Sons of Norway. He enjoyed woodworking, camping, and collecting & refurbishing antique tube radios. Dale had a great sense of humor right up to the end. He made sure his family and friends were able to find something to laugh or smile about through some difficult times. Dale is survived by his wife Margaret; two daughters-Deborah (Leonard) Hudson of Grand Rapids, Denise Schmieding of Sparta, MI; two sons-Danny (Patty) Schmieding of Dunn, NC, David (Kammie) Schmieding of Belding, MI; six grandchildren-Elissa, Rebecca & Eric Hudson, Joshua & Tracie Schmieding, Justin Schmieding; two great-grandchildren-Anna Williams & Haley Schmieding. He was dearly loved and will be missed by his children. Additional survivors include-a brother Edwin (Barbara) Schmieding of Lawton, OK; and two sisters-Natalie (James) VandenToorn of Wyoming, MI, and Kay (Gerrih) Ferwerda of Michigan City, IN.