Dale Benhart Koski

Dale Benhart Koski, age 80, of Silver City, passed away from Alzheimer's related complications on
Friday, May 10, at Bayside Village in L'Anse, with his wife Eileen holding his hand.

Dale was born  October 20, 1938, to Eino & Mabel (Nuquist) Koski in Ontonagon MI.  He grew up
in White Pine & Silver City. He attended schools in White Pine, Green & Ontonagon. Dale
joined the US Marines in 1957 until 1959. Dale lived in Escanaba from 1971-1984 and in Port
Washington  WI until  2006 when   moved to the family home in Silver City with his wife Eileen.

Dale got involved with union work in 1959 until his retirement in 1999. During which time he
completed  2 years at Michigan Tech for Electronics Technician and then to Wayne State
University, studying business law, which evolved into being a Business Agent for Local 324 in
Michigan  from  1971-1984; Business Agent for Local 139 in Wisconsin from 1986-1991; Business
Agent  Local 150 in IL from 1991-1999. His final accomplishment was negotiating the Great
Lakes  Floating Agreement from  Duluth MN to Massena  NY, including the tributaries of the St
Lawrence  Seaway.

Since Dale's 1999 retirement, he traveled to China and with Eileen they traveled to Cuba,
Finland,  Sweden, Denmark  and  Norway. After purchasing a motor  home in 2004 they became
snowbirds  during the winters until 2016. On one of those trips they got married in Florida on 2-
14-14. During the summers  they drove the northern routes including the Lake Superior tour and
visited many national parks from Glacier NP in MT to Acadia NP in ME. During  14 years of
traveling, they visited 45 National Parks & Monuments. They also loved NYC spending a week
each fall for 11 years.

One of Dale's rewarding  accomplishments  in 1984 was saving the deteriating Arch from the
Italian Hall. Since 2009, it has been part of the Keweenaw National Park in Calumet. Dale was
also responsible for building the athletic field/running track with volunteer labor and
apprenticeship training equipment at the  Ontonagon Area  High School in Ontonagon MI.

Dale is a  member of Ozaukee Masonic  Lodge  #0017 in Port Washington; Shriners International
& National Sojourners Milwaukee  Chapter  #27; Escanaba MCL  #444; First Marine Division of
Greater Milwaukee;  American Legion   Nonesuch Post 462 White Pine; Elks Lodge #354
Escanaba; Finnish American Society of Milwaukee   & Little Finland WI; Ontonagon County
Historical Society; Ontonagon County  Democrats & a member of St Paul Lutheran Church in
Ontonagon.

Dale is survived by his wife Eileen Holmstrom, daughter Deanna (Paul) Scofield, granddaughter
Rachel (Brian) Nowicki and grandsons Trevor Pestka, Josh Colclasure & Jacob Colclasure. Great
Grandchildren, Izaiha Koski and Jaimisen Koski. Brother Gilbert (Diane) Koski, Sisters
Sigrid (Philip) Kolehmainen and Kariina (Paul) Kelson and sister in law Diane (Ernest) Koski.
A special nephew Philip (Robin) Kolehmainen and niece Jill (Jeff) Senkerik & their children.
Step children Sue Britz, Ray Dishaw and Eric and Brad Holmstrom.   
Nephews   Aaron Kolehmainen   and Adam  Guernsey  & Niece Jena Guernsey.

In addition to his parents, Dale was preceded in death by his daughter Debra Koski, son Rodney
Koski and brother Ernest Koski.

Funeral Services will be at St Paul Lutheran Church in Ontonagon on Saturday, May 18 at 1:00
with visitation from 12-1. Lunch will be served at Paul's Supper Club in Silver City following the
service.

Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery at a later date with Military Honors. Arrangements
have been entrusted to Cane Funeral Home.

Donations can be sent to the Alzheimer's Association P.O. Box 96011, Washington DC 20090-6011 or a charity of your choice.

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