Dale Haner

Dale R. Haner was a kind and loving man, known for his big heart, his incredible sense of humor, quick wit and his zest for life. Never one to let life pass him by, Dale lived a life filled with adventures and special moments. He enjoyed his job, loved golfing and spending time on the lake, but nothing made him happier than sharing moments at home with his beloved family. Gone but never to be forgotten, Dale will be missed and treasured in the hearts of all who came to know and love him.

The 1950s were an exciting decade in our nation’s history as America strode confidentially from the ashes of World War II into a new age of prosperity. It was in these times of progress that Americans discovered the proximity of the suburbs, the convenience of dishwashers and the swinging sounds of rock and roll. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, David and Jacqueline (Zuller) Haner were experiencing some growing pains of their own as they prepared for the arrival of their first child. On February 22, 1956, they were overjoyed with the birth of their son, Dale Robert Haner. He was later joined by his little sister, Danelle, who completed the Haner household.

Dale was 10 years old when his father took a transfer for his job at General Motors, which led to the family moving to Kalamazoo. His mother worked as a bookkeeper. Dale enjoyed growing up in Kalamazoo, where he played Little League baseball (his dad was his coach) and was a safety on the high school football team. He received his education attending Milwood Elementary and Jr. High and Loy Norrix High School; however, his family moved to Mattawan his senior year and he went on to graduate from Mattawan High in 1974.

While in his 20s, Dale was married for a time to Karen and they had two sons together Daryl and Bryan. Their marriage ended in divorce, but Dale remained a devoted father to his sons. It wasn’t long before a dating column in the newspaper caught Dale’s eye and he responded to a notice from a woman named Barb. He wrote a sweet note that caught Barb’s attention. They wrote back and forth for a while and then began talking on the phone. Once Dale and Barb were comfortable with what they knew of each other, they decided to meet for a drink and with that, their love story began. The next day, they met again, but this time with their kids (Dale’s two sons, and Barb’s daughter, Jasmine) at the Do-Da Parade in Kalamazoo and had a great day together. It wasn’t long before Dale and Barb were making plans for their life together and on October 17, 1987, they made it official. After a wonderful ceremony, the newlyweds headed on a romantic honeymoon that Dale planned in Toronto, Ontario. Twenty-five years later, they returned to Canada to celebrate their silver anniversary in Niagara Falls.

Dale had an adventurous spirit and many of his hobbies involved that side of his personality. He loved hitting the water in his jet boat on Silver Lake and taking his Jeep on the dunes. One of Dale’s most exhilarating life moments just happened recently when he had an “Extreme Experience” at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, where he drove a magnificent Lamborghini. Being a car lover, this was by far a once in a lifetime experience for Dale. He was passionate about cars for as long as he could remember and had a model car collection of some of his favorites too. But actually driving a Lamborghini takes the cake! His choice of music was kind of bold too – he enjoyed hard rock and throughout the years attended many concerts. Yet, Dale also enjoyed the smooth sound of the blues and he and Barb made a tradition of going to the Blues Festival in Kalamazoo. He had a blast attending the Kentucky Derby and the Indy 500. Golfing with his Dad, skiing with Roger or just hanging out with the “Kids” were some of Dale’s best times too. He also loved getting together with good friends; Bob & Kathy, Dan & Ann and Pam.

Dale appreciated and enjoyed his life but didn’t take himself too seriously. He called himself Batman and was great at trick shots when playing pool. He was a funny guy who always had a joke up his sleeve. A trivia buff with a great memory, made him an ace at Jeopardy. Sadly, Dale was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2012, and after only a short battle, he passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2012, at the age of 56. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Dale R. Haner of Kalamazoo, MI, age 56, passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Barb; three children: Daryl Haner of Climax, Bryan (fiancée Hillary) Haner of Portage, Jasmine (Ben) Babcock of Rockford; and one granddaughter on the way. He is also survived by his mother, Jacqueline Baker; sister, Dani (Troy) Lucas of Schoolcraft; mother-in-law, Donna Frye of Portage; brother-in-law, Richard Maas of Kalamazoo; one niece, Chelsea, and two nephews, Cody and Ty; and his cat, Cami. He is preceded in death by his father, David Haner.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 5, 2013, from 4 p.m. until the time of the service at the Life Story Funeral Home, 5975 Lovers Lane, Portage (269-344-5600). Memorial service will be held on Saturday at 5 p.m. at the same location, and continue to gather afterward until 7 p.m. Please visit Dale’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can sign his guest book online before coming to the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Ministry for Community, Kalamazoo Humane Society or West Michigan Cancer Center.