Dale M. Jenkins, 87,of Watersmeet entered his eternal reward on Thursday, March 11th, at the Northstar Medical Facility in Iron River, MI. He had recently been hospitalized there and died comfortably in the presence of his family. He had previously fought through two bouts with cancer and was a fighter to the end.

Dale was born in Maple Grove, April 17th, 1922, the son of the late Leo and Alice Jenkins. Dale was preceded in death by a brother, Blake. He is survived by his wife Charlotte (Sparks); daughters; Charlene (Paul) Kemppainen and Theresa (Bob) Mansfield, all of Watersmeet. He is also survived by a brother, Richard of Oconto, WI along with several nieces, nephews and cousins. Dale was extremely proud of his two grandchildren; Dale (Elizabeth) Kemppainen of Little Elm, TX, and Mandy (Ramsey) Haynes of Eagle River, WI. He thoroughly enjoyed the company of his eight great-grandchildren: Brigitte (Donald) Goss, Cody Wilson, Breanna, Sabrina, Dayle and Dale Kemppainen, Jr., and Damon Mansfield. He also has one great-great grandchild, Claire Goss.

Dale grew up in the Maple Grove area and eventually moved to Watersmeet with his parents. He graduated from the Watersmeet High School in 1940. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and taught instrument flying in Texas.. Following the war he opened the Jenkins Garage with his father. He later worked for the Gogebic County Road Commission in the Watersmeet Garage, retiring in 1984. Upon his retirement, he continued to be "the car doctor" doing mechanic work and small engine repairs well into his seventies.

Dale was an active sportsman. He enjoyed golf, bowling, fishing and particularly deer hunting. He enjoyed telling stories of the hunts that he had during the 1940's with his dad and two brothers. Dale. was a member of the Watersmeet Lions Club and American Legion Post 417 serving in many capacities

Dale was an active member of his community serving as an EMT for several years along with being a Deputy Coroner for the county. Dale was respected by everyone and will always be remembered as someone who would go out of his way to help anyone who needed some.

The highlight of Dale's later years was the role he played in "Nimrod Mania". His rendition of the school fight song in the Nimrod commercials on ESPN is remembered by everyone. He thoroughly enjoyed the Tonight Show appearance with the basketball team and his role in the Nimrod Nation Series on Sundance. He truly was "Mr. Nimrod" and supported the athletes and students of Watersmeet. and was always "Proud to be a Nimrod". He will be sadly missed by all of those who knew him.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 11 a.m. CST at the Watersmeet Baptist Church in Watersmeet, MI with Pastor Skip Pullen officiating. Friends may call at the church 2 hours prior to the start of the service.