Obit: Cummings, Dale S. "Cooter" (1948 - 2009)  
 

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: eldoken@potc.net 
 

Surname: Cummings, Bardeleben, Bowman, Breheim, Sluga, Schmidt, Smith, Stork 
 

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson, Co. WI.) 
 

Cummings, Dale S. "Cooter" (12 March 1948 - 16 August 2009) With Flag 
 

Dale S. "Cooter" Cummings, 61, of Alma Center died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire. 
 

Dale was born March 12, 1948, in Neillsville to parents James and Gladys (Bardeleben) Cummings.  He graduated from Alma Center Lincoln High School and served in the U. S. Navy. 
 

He married June Bowman June 26, 1971, in Alma Center, and the couple made their home in the Alma Center area.  Dale was employed as a mechanic at the Alma Center Garage for 37 years. He also drove school bus for the Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan School District also for 37 years.  
 

Dale will be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, son, brother and friend.  He greatly enjoyed being a grandpa.  He was a true outdoorsman, enjoying both hunting and fishing.  He was a "gentleman farmer," putting in crops for the deer.  Deer scouting was a favorite activity he liked to do with his grandson.  When he went fishing, he could usually be counted on to catch fish even when others were having no luck.  Dale also liked spending time playing horseshoes, gardening and having coffee with his mother before going to work. 
 

Dale was a trustee and elder at Grace Lutheran Church of Alma Center.  He served on the Alma Center Village Board, and he was the commander of the Alma Center American Legion Post 162.  He belonged to the Alma Center VFW, Post 8494 and the Alma Center Volunteer Fire Department, serving as fire chief for many years. 
 

Dale is survived by his wife, June; two daughters, April (Jeremy) Breheim of Alma Center and Crystal (Matthew) Sluga of Independence; his mother, Gladys Cummings of Alma Center; one brother, Gary (Donna) Cummings of Alma Center; two sisters, Barb (Pete) Schmidt of Black River Falls and Judy Smith of Tomah; five grandchildren, Ethan, Miah, Colton, Brock and Haili; besides a great many other relatives and friends. 
 

Dale was preceded in death by his father, Jim Cummings, Oct. 13, 2003. 
 

Funeral services for Dale S. Cummings will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday August 22, 2009, at the Grace Lutheran Church, Alma Center with Reverend Steven Stork officiating.  Burial with military rites by the Alma Center VFW and the Alma Center American Legion will be in the East Lawn Cemetery, Alma Center. 
 

Friends may call Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton, and also one hour prior to services at the church.