Dale Sullivan

Dale Patrick Sullivan was a man with a great sense of humor and an unselfish heart. Fair, honest, and blessed with a wonderful gift of gab, Dale was the kind of man you knew you could count on, and if he started something, you knew he was going to finish it, and finish it right. He loved sports, his family cottage on Croton Pond, but most of all, he loved his family. Dale will be remembered as a man who knew that true joy and happiness come from being surrounded by friends and family, not possessions.

The 1940s were tumiltous times for Americans, but for Robert and Ruby (Bohn) Sullivan, their hopes were centered on the impending birth of their first child. Robert and Ruby lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan and on September 9, 1942, joyfully welcomed their son, whom they named Dale Patrick. Fourteen months later, Dale became big brother to his sister, Susan and the Sullivan family was complete. However, at the time of Susan's birth, their father Robert was overseas, serving as a U.S. Navy Seabee during World War II. When he finally returned home, Susan was already walking and young Dale had grown into a young boy.

Once out of the service, Robert supported his family working as an electrician for General Motors, while, along with caring for the home and the children, Ruby worked as a model and was the manager of a women’s clothing store. Tragically, Ruby died at the age of 32 from lung complications, leaving Robert to care for their two children. With the lose of his wife, Robert felt it was too much for him to handle so the children were split up. Susan went to her grandmother’s and Dale went to live with his mother’s sister. Robert lived with Susan and her grandmother but Susan was really raised by her grandmother. Dale was just four years old and Susan was three. It was a traumatic time for everyone. However, both Dale and his sister were still living in Grand Rapids and were able to see each other quite regularly. Christmases were spent with the father and his family and Thanksgivings were spent with their mother’s family.

Before Robert and Ruby were married, Ruby had purchased a parcel of land on Croton Pond, which is located just outside of the city of Newaygo, Michigan. Here, her brothers had built a cottage and this cottage became Dale and Susan’s favorite place to be. Every summer was spent at the cottage and their days were filled with sitting in the family boat they painted and named “Rotten Croton”. Dale and Susan would leave in the morning with a packed lunch and spend all day, putting around to the rumbles of the 3.5 hp motor, fishing, hunting for turtles and just exploring the river that fed into the pond.

Dale attended Godfrey Lee Elementary School and graduated from Lee High School in 1960. He played the trombone in the high school band, and since practice was after lunch, Dale said he had to clean out the “lunch particles” from the trombone when he got home each day. Driving around in a cherry red Pontiac Catalina convertible, Dale had quite a reputation. His car sported a 45 rpm record player under the dash and when Lee went to the state final basketball tournament, Dale and his car were the center of the excitement. With the music turned up loud, everyone in the parking lot was dancing and having a great time. To pay for this beauty, he worked Saturdays and Sundays at the De Lite Donut Company filling donuts, and it was well worth it. Like all teenage boys, he liked just about every sport, but his favorite was spending time on the river in the summer.

Dale soon entered the Army where he served as an MP. When he was discharged, he returned home and lived with his father and sister for about a year. He then enrolled in Davenport College. His father had always stressed the importance of a good education and he was very proud when Dale graduated in 1968 with a degree in business.

Dale and his sister Susan were good friends with the owner of the Shamrock Lounge on Bridge St., whose name also happended to be Bob Sullivan, the same as their dad's name. It was here at the Shamrock Lounge one night in early 1970 that Dale met a young lady named Sue Boonstra. Sue worked as an elementary school teacher for West Elementary in Grandville and also worked at a golf course where she and Dale spent a few of their first dates. Dale liked to tell the story of how Sue almost beat him the first time they played. Soon a romance began to blossom as they dated over the next year and came to full bloom when they were married on June 11, 1971 at the Congregational Church. The wedding was supposed to take place at the Grandville United Methodist Church, but it was still under construction so they had to move the ceremony to the Congregational Church, two blocks away. They honeymooned in the picturesque area of Leland, Michigan in the Leelanau Peninsula.

The newlyweds lived in an apartment on Lake Michigan Drive for about six months and then purchased a home on Simpson Court in Grand Rapids. They remained in this home until 2001 when they sold it to their son Brian. Dale and Sue were blessed with two sons, Daniel born in 1973 and Brian born in 1975. Dale was always very supportive of his sons and tried to be a good role model for them as they were growing up. Many times he said how proud he was of the adults they had become. Dale worked as a salesman and with his great gift of gab, he could sell just about anything. He worked most of his career at George Bulliss Men’s Store, and recently worked for Savory Foods selling cookie dough for fundraisers.

Dale wasn’t much for travel; he was content to spend his leisure time at the cottage on Croton Pond. He was a member of the Croton American Legion and could often be seen riding his old BMX bike around the neighborhood, visiting friends and neighbors. When the kids were young, they did take family trips, always in the family van. They hit both sides of the country visiting his wife’s sister in Vermont and out to Oregon to visit his sister. With both women being named Sue, it got a little confusing sometimes. They also took trips to Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and other popular vacation spots.

After selling the family home to Brian, Dale and Sue moved to the cottage at Croton. Now, he was able to spend time with his precious grandson, Samuel John Sullivan, and loved to spend time playing with him and teaching him to fish.

Dale had been bravely battling three life-threatening blood disorders for the past four years. Through this trying time, he continued to enjoy his life on Croton Pond, talking to his neighbors and meeting his buddies at the Legion. Sadly, Dale Patrick Sullivan lost this brave battle and died on October 27, 2008.

Dale had many great days in his life, but most important to him was making life better for those around him. He will be dearly missed for his generosity, his kind heart, and a smile that could light up the world.

Dale’s journey on earth has ended. He will be greatly missed by so many, especially his wife Sue; sons, Dan and Brian; grandson, Sam; sister, Susan Allen and her daughters, Kellian and Kristin; sister-in-law, Leesa Bradley and her son Kevin; many cousins; and special “relies” Phil, Kathy, and Dickson. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, October 30 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. The family will be at the funeral home to greet friends and relatives on Wednesday from 5-8 PM and one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Rapids Hospice of Michigan, Faith United Methodist Church, or charity of one’s choice. To archive a memory, photo, or sign the guest book please visit Dale’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com.