Dale J. Schotts

Life is not always sunshine and flowers. Sometimes it is trials and tribulations. Dale J. Schotts experienced some of the sunshine and more of the tribulations. He was an opinionated man who wanted things done his way. But if you had a problem and needed help, Dale was there. An honest man whose word was his bond, Dale was a loving man, in his own way. White Cloud, Michigan is the county seat for Newaygo County. In 1928, it was a small farming and lumbering community and the home of Samuel and Ruth (Eiman) Schotts. Samuel was a farmer while Ruth cared for the home and awaited the birth of their first child. On March 25, 1928, Samuel and Ruth welcomed the birth of their son, Dale. Dale was later joined by Robert, Ken, Carl, Art, Jerry and Kathy. An eighth sibling, Richard, died as a baby. Life was not easy for the Schotts family and everyone had to work hard just to get from day to day. All the children had chores, hoeing and picking in the fields all day. They raised green beans on their small farm and when through with that crop, would go and help other farmers. To put meat on the table, the boys went hunting, not always according to the law. All the boys had experienced a little trouble for hunting violations at one time or another and were well known by the Conservation Officers. Dale attended school through the eighth grade in a one-room schoolhouse in Etna, Michigan, now a township hall. When he turned 17, Dale joined the Army, serving during the final days of World War II. He was stationed in Germany during the U.S. occupation, working as a mechanic. Back in the states, while at the Officers Club on an Army base in Maryland, Dale met the lovely Jeannette Springer. Jeannette's father was an Army officer and very strict. Jeannette was a very bright girl, valedictorian of her class, and the untamed soldier from Michigan swept her off her feet. He gave her a sense of security - and the opportunity to get out on her own. Dale and Jeannette were married on July 20, 1950 in Maryland. With discharge in hand, the newlyweds moved back to Hesperia, Michigan, living with Dale's parents before getting a place of their own. Dale began working at Gerber Baby Foods doing maintenance, and also as a gas station mechanic. Son Leonard arrived in early 1951, followed by Dale "Pat" who was born at the end of 1951. Two daughters followed - Susan in 1953 and Sandy in 1955. Tragedy struck when Dale's father was killed in a hunting accident in 1951. Being the oldest, Dale stepped in to help his mother. With similar headstrong personalities, his younger brothers did not take too well to Dale's help. There was always rivalry between them. Dale's skills as a mechanic, learned from his father while working on the farm, allowed him to always find work to support his family. He worked at a variety of places, like Continental Motors, Brunswick, Campbell Wyant and Cannon, and SD Warren Paper Mill. However, Dale had an attitude about him, and would tell his employers if he thought they weren't doing something right. Unfortunately this often cost him his job. In the early 1970's a back injured forced him to officially retire. Dale was a man's man, and not very involved in raising his children - that was women's work. He believed in the adage that "children should be seen and not heard." He softened a little as the years went on but was always a taskmaster. He did, however, like to go camping with his family, and would take his sons hunting to teach them what he knew. Son Pat said this was where he really bonded with his father and they created lots of wild hunting stories. True to Schotts fashion, not all were within the law. Dale also liked to fish, both on the river and on Lake Michigan in his 34-foot boat. He tied his own flies and would cook the fish he caught, sometimes smoking them. Ironically, Dale was a Constable and Justice of the Peace in Dalton Township for many years. Sandy remembers couples being married in their home and the kids throwing rice at the newlyweds. Another of Dale's duties was taking care of county dog violations. Dale was a real animal lover, except perhaps when it came to hunting. When Dale retired he continued to work. He could fix just about anything, whether it was machinery, cars, or something around the house. Cars were his specialty. He knew cars inside and out and bought and sold used cars. Along with being a good mechanic, Dale was an excellent welder and built all kinds of trailers to sell. A salesman at heart, he was proud of the fact that he "never paid full price" and advised his daughter Sandy "Don't let them know that you want it, play it cool." As gruff as he was, Dale was described by his friend Wayne Squire as an honest man whose word was his bond. He often helped others in need even when there was nothing in it for himself. Jeannette was the more refined of the two - Dale was somewhat of a hillbilly - and her life was to validate Dale's. She worked at Hackley Hospital so that the family would have insurance and it was Jeannette who worked to make sure the children were educated. Most of their 50 years together, it was Dale who decided what was what. Jeannette took all this in stride, but later in life began to stand up to Dale. Shortly after their 50th anniversary, Jeannette was stricken with cancer and went down hill very quickly. When she died in 2000, Dale was lost. Needing to fill the void left by Jeannette's death, Dale got together with Sheryl Dahl. Dale loved her and wanted to take care of her as much as he wanted her to take care of him. Despite his family's disapproval, Dale and Sheryl were married in 2003. Unfortunately, the marriage did not work out. Dale had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002 and put up a good fight. After a 4-year battle, Dale's final fight was over. Dale is survived by 2 sons, Leonard Schotts of Pinckney, MI, & Pat (Susan) of Dexter, MI; 2 daughters, Susan (Daniel) Gansz of TX, & Sandy Barnhart of Muskegon; 10 grandchildren; & 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Kathy Anderson; 3 brothers, Robert Schotts of Traverse City, MI, Carl (Joyce) Schotts of Muskegon, Art (Peggy) Schotts of Twin Lake; wife, Sheryl. He was preceded in death by his 1st wife, Jeannette and by 2 brothers, Ken & Jerry Schotts. Friends may visit with Dale's family on Sunday, February 2 from 7:00-9:00 pm and on Monday, February 20 from 3:00 - 4:00. Funeral services will be Monday at 4:00 pm at the Clock Life Story Funeral Home in Muskegon. Please visit Dale's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, sign the online guest book or make a memorial contribution to the Salvation Army.