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Duluth News Tribune, Sept. 16, 1999

Dale E. Bentz, 68, died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999, in Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, Mich.

He was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Proctor to Edward and Elsie Bentz. Dale retired from Dowagiac (Mich.) Union School System in 1986 following over 30 years of teaching. He coached football, basketball and golf until he retired from coaching in 1972. Dale served in the Marine Corps from Aug. 15, 1951, until he was honorably discharged as a sergeant on Aug. 14, 1953. He married JoAnn "Irish" [Willesen] on Nov. 29, 1952, in Proctor. They were married for 36 years, until her death on Oct. 25, 1988.

He was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnn Irish-Bentz; his parents, Edward and Elsie (Zebott) Bentz; and brothers James Bentz and David Bentz.

Dale is survived by a son, James Bentz of South Bend, Ind.; daughters Nance (Rick) Myers of Dowagiac, Lori (Dan) Cleveland of Sister Lakes, Mich., and Sandi Bentz of Kalamazoo; grandchildren Rebecca Cleveland, Kelsey Cleveland and Jonathan Myers, all at home; a sister, Shirley (Truman) Tie of Proctor; nephews Gary Bentz of Minnesota, Paul Provencher of Mesa, Ariz., and Mike Tie and Tom Tie, both of Minnesota; and a niece, Michele Rosenthal of Hudson, Mass.

Memorial service: 10 a.m. Saturday in McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, Dowagiac. Father Leo A. Taubitz officiating. Burial of cremated remains to follow in Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association.

Burial:
Riverside Cemetery 
Dowagiac
Cass County
Michigan, USA