Full Obituary

DALE R. PETKOVSEK, age 52, of Willard, passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2013 in the ER at Memorial Medical Center in Neillsville. He is now in heaven with God and walking tall in his presence. Funeral services will be held at 1pm on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Willard. Rev. Steve Brice will celebrate the mass and burial will take place in Holy Family Catholic Cemetery at a later date. Pallbearers will be Calvin Gregorich, Fred Gregorich, Roy Gregorich, Dusty Winkel, Steve Bayuk and Craig Smith. Visitation will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, on Saturday, from 9am until time of service. Following Mass, a celebration of Dale's life will be held at Dale's North Mound Tavern in Willard.
Dale Robert Petkovsek was born on September 16, 1960 in Marshfield, WI, the son of Bill and Dorothy (Prebil) Petkovsek. He attended school in Willard and Greenwood, graduating from Greenwood High School in 1978. After an accident in July of 1978, Dale spent several months in the hospital and then moved to Minneapolis, MN to a rehab center. He spent a couple of years there and then moved back to Willard to start a bar business. As of July 2013, he ran Dale's North Mound Tavern for 30 years. In 1999, Dale opened Sunset Pines Resort, a resort designed for the handicapped, but open to anyone, just like Dale's heart was. A few years later, he started and was president of Rock Creek Disabled Outdoors, an organization designed to get disabled people into the outdoors when they had no other opportunity to do so. Dale was a mentor to many young kids that came to the bar with their parents. He was not afraid to talk to anyone, or lend advice or a hand in assistance. He was the most unselfish man ever.
He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and the Black River Bowman's Club. Dale loved to shoot archery and help with the club's annual ice fishing contest. Dale has been very active in his 35 years of being in a wheelchair. He loved to hunt and fish, when the businesses allowed time. He loved to spend time with all of his family and friends, especially Christie and Katie, watching them ride horse, fish, play, and having movie night with them. Dale also enjoyed many concerts with friends and any activity he could do to be out in public with the people he loved.
Dale will be sadly missed by his very special companion: Christie Ciolkosz and her daughter, Katie, of Thorp; his siblings: Ray (Sue) of Madison, Donna (Charlie) Washburn of Beach Park, IL, Joanne (Bob) Trunkel of Greenwood, Dave (Brenda) of Kennan, Jean Petkovsek of Greenwood, Mary Petkovsek (Tom Briski) of Willard; his dog, Lady; his nieces and nephews: Roger (Jamie) Petkovsek of Monona, Chris (Chad) Lemerande of New Franklin, Jeff (Jonelle) Trunkel of Stanley, Rich (Brandi) Trunkel of Eau Claire, Maggie Petkovsek and Dusty Petkovsek, both of Kennan, Jason Bryan of Marshfield; great nieces and nephews: Rose, Reece, Dayne, Fletcher and Eden; as well as many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, Dale's family requests that donations be made to Rock Creek Disabled Outdoors (RCDO), W9517 Rock Creed Road, Willard, WI 54493.