Dale I. Bush, 76, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at his home under the care of his family and Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley.
A funeral mass was held on Saturday, March 9th at 11:00 am at St. James Catholic Church, Gouverneur with Fr. Shane Lynch officiating and burial to take place in the spring in New St. James Cemetery, Gouverneur. Calling hours were on Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 & 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur.
Dale was born on February 24, 1943 in Gouverneur, NY, the son of Alton S. Bush and Margaret L. Jones Bush. Dale graduated from Gouverneur High School in 1961 and from Canton ATI in 1963, with a degree in Agri-Business. After college, he joined the United States Army Reserves.
Mr. Bush began his career at Agway in Syracuse in 1964 as a manager/trainee. He married Kathryn Randall on April 30, 1966 at St. James Church in Gouverneur. They moved to several different states, returning to Gouverneur in 1972 and purchased his grandparents' farm on the Welch Road. He worked for Agway, Augsbury, and Atlantic/Ultramar until he started his own business, D.I. Bush Fuels Inc. in 1982.
Dale was an active member of St. James Catholic Church in Gouverneur where he was a Eucharistic Minister, Parish Council member, 20-year Kiwanis member, 15-year trustee of E.J. Noble Hospital board of directors, advisor/board member of Gouverneur Community Bank, advisory board member for St. Lawrence/Lewis County BOCES, and a member of the board of directors of Cambray Housing. In 2003, Dale and Kay were named Citizens of the Year by the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce.
He enjoyed spending time with his family, his beef cows, golfing, collecting tractors, trips to the casino, bowling, singing and dancing.
Mr. Bush is survived by one son, Michael (Tricia) Bush, of Gouverneur, three daughters, Patti (Jim) Besaw of Central Square, Maureen (Alvin) Moore of Florence, South Carolina, and Teresa (Jim) Minckler of Gouverneur, two brothers Phillip (MaryBeth) Bush of Gouverneur and David (Laurie) Bush of Gouverneur, one sister Marilyn (Bill) Sapila, of Lansing, Michigan, seven grandchildren Taylor Besaw, Morgan Bush, Nate Besaw, Emily Bush, Madison Besaw, JD Minckler, Paul Minckler, and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a son Dale Irving Jr. in 1973, his father Alton in 1987, his mother Margaret in 1999, and his wife Kay in 2012.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley, 6805 US Highway 11, Potsdam, NY 13676 or St. James Church, 164 E. Main Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642.