Obituary: Dale D Stratton

As received from Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service:

Dale Duane Stratton, 91, long time Battle Creek, MI resident and business owner passed away Friday,
February 17, 2023 at UP Health System, Hancock, MI following a short illness. He was born September
30, 1931 in Litchfield, MI the youngest son of Clarence E. and Esther L. (Monroe) Stratton. Dale grew up
on the family farm near Litchfield, MI and graduated from Litchfield High School. He worked as a
milkman at his brother’s dairy in Albion, MI and was involved in the Civil Air Patrol where he soloed
as a pilot. This sparked an interest in aviation and he wanted to volunteer for the Air Force. Without a
slot available in the Air Force, he volunteered for the Army in 1950 and served three years during the
Korean Conflict and received an honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant.

While hitchhiking home on leave from training at Camp Atterbury, IN, he was picked up by Kathleen Jean
Blount and friends. The two instantly hit it off and were married on Oct 25, 1951 before Dale shipped
out for a two year tour in Germany. Kathleen passed away on September 4, 2009.

Upon leaving the Army in 1953, Dale attended barber school in Detroit and started work in Lakeview, MI
soon running his own shops for over 62 years. Starting with founding the Suburban Barber Shop in
Lakeview, MI where he worked for 29 years then the Bedford Barber Shop for 7 years and finally Dale’s
Barber Shop in Urbandale, MI working there 26 years until his retirement in 2015. During this time he
was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church Battle Creek, MI, the Lions Club and community
associations.

After retiring, he moved near Houghton, MI to be closer to his son Dennis. He became an active member
of Saints Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, Chassell Lion’s Club and the Tapiola Senior Citizens group.
He continued barbering for family and friends. In 2018, Dale moved to Ennis, MT to be near his daughter
Renata. He was an active member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, the Lions Club and
volunteered as a dishwasher at the Ennis Senior Center. When they needed help at Mel’s Barber Shop,
Dale stepped up and cut hair through the pandemic, finally “retiring” again at the end of 2020 when a
new full-time barber arrived.

Not one to sit still, Dale got antsy and decided to find a new job in Ennis. He joined the team at
Shedhorn Sports in late summer of 2021 where he kept their clothing section neat and tidy. He was adored by his co-workers and was invigorated with a new sense of purpose.

After a slip and fall on the ice in late 2021, he returned to be near his son Dennis, where he finally
retired and was shepherded by his brothers and sisters in Christ at Grace Free Lutheran Church Pelkie, MI and then on to his Heavenly Home for which he was more than ready to see.

He is survived by his children: Douglas (Kaoru) Stratton, Renata (Steve) Shore, and Dennis (Sue)
Stratton; grandchildren: Jamie (Eric) Stratton Hsiao, Bryan (Amanda) Stratton, Benjamin (Andrea)
Stratton, Victoria Shore, Jacob Stratton, and Dominique Shore; 6 great grandchildren; nieces and
nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and brothers: Harold and Ronald Stratton

Memorial services are to be held at Grace Free Lutheran Church Pelkie, MI 11:00 am March 11, 2023
Interment will be at the Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI in the spring.

Memorial tributes may be made to Shepard of the Hills Lutheran Church Ennis, MT, Grace Free Lutheran
Church of Pelkie, MI, Ennis Senior Center, or Baragaland Senior Citizens, Inc.

Bachman Hebble Funeral Service – Battle Creek, MI and The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation
Service – Chassell, Michigan is assisting the family with the arrangements.