Dale Zettler
Dale F. “Chubby” Zettler was a caring father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother and friend. He left this world suddenly on Wednesday morning, July 13, 2022, at the age of 78. He was the third of ten children born to Alton and Marjorie Zettler of rural Athens, on August 4, 1943, at home. Dale went to Lad School, having to walk there and back. He then attended Athens High School. Six months before graduation, he left school to start working full time at the family road construction business, Alton Zettler Inc. Many roads that we drive on today in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan were dug out of the landscape by our family’s road construction company.
On May 2, 1964, he married Arlene Gierl, and together they had their three children. They later divorced. Several years later he married Jan Fischer on August 30, 1997. She survives.
Chubby operated many types of heavy construction equipment like graders, scrapers, bulldozers and endloaders, in addition to the crusher and breaker, and was a lifelong truck driver and visited many states. He enjoyed sharing stories about the scenery on his trips. He also worked on the family farm. Not only had he worked at Alton Zettler Inc., he had also worked for E.J. Peter Trucking, J & L Haines Trucking Co., Thurs Trucking, ATS, Doberstein Lumber and Fischer Truck and Bus, keeping busy year ‘round with short and long hauls. In his retirement years he delivered flowers, and also transported smaller vehicles for Gross Motors.
Dale enjoyed many activities such as bowling, snowmobiling, darts, pool, playing cards at the VFW, NASCAR, and any pulling events. He was very proud of his son Tim, and grandchildren Chey and Mitchel, and their pulling skills and many trophies. He had been involved with the Athens Sno-Pak and the A & H Snowmobile Club.
Chub was well known for his tall tales and storytelling skills, his absolutely beautiful cursive handwriting, and being able to talk exactly like Donald Duck.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Alton and Marjorie Zettler; his brothers: Wilfred Zettler, David Zettler and Anthony Zettler; nephews: Mark Zettler and Mike Zettler; his first wife, Arlene Gierl, and father-in-law, Donald Abraham.
Survivors include his wife, Jan Zettler of Marshfield; mother-in-law, Betty Abraham of Appleton; his children: Dean (Lynn) Zettler of Cleveland, Dawn (Pat Fechtner) Zettler of Merrill and Timothy (Jennifer) Zettler of Medford; and two step-daughters: Melissa (Donald) Thompson of Green Bay and Christina Champa of Marshfield; grandchildren: Ciji Becker, Mitchel Becker, Johnathan (Amie) Becker, Quentin Zettler, Josephine Zettler, Samuel Zettler, Shawna Ford, Tiffany (John) Peterson, Cheyanne Zettler, Ryan Sorenson, Larry Sorenson, Dominic (Maggie) Thompson, Devin Thompson, and Taylor Champa; great-grandchildren: Avah Becker, Wyatt Becker, Lydia Becker, Demi Becker, Daxon Becker, Raelynn Peterson, Brynlee Peterson, Madilyn Thompson, Chandler Wallis and Kingsley Wallis; siblings: Marlene (Melvin) Carter of Colby, Doris (James) Bollech of Wausau, Susan (Dominic) Dominowski of Appleton, Carol (Keith) Myers of Tigerton, Gene (Kathy) Zettler of New Richmond and Lori (Jeff) Haines of Athens; and sisters and brothers-in-law: Shirley Zettler of Edgar, Linda Zettler of Weston, Pamela (Clayton) Moorehouse of Las Vegas, Deborah Krueger of Appleton and Tom Tews of Manawa. Dale was further survived by his goddaughter, Deb Thurs; godson, Jeremy Haines, and many, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family is having a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, from 11 to 4 at the Athens Village Park on Hwy. 97 south. Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home and Cremation is assisting with arrangements.
Paid obituary 123949
