South Bend – Dale Richard Daurer, 98, passed away after a brief period of declining health at Briarcliff Healthcare.

Dale was born to the late Joseph and Gladys Daurer on June 22, 1926, in South Bend. Dale and Maxine (Galbreath) Daurer were married in Mishawaka on September 4, 1948.  He was preceded in death by Maxine on September 28, 2007.  He was also preceded in death by all 10 of his siblings; Clara Ruhle, Clarence McWilliams, Claude McWilliams, Clyde McWilliams, Cornelious McWilliams, Orley McWilliams, Joseph Daurer, Glenn Daurer, Lucille Clark, and Betty J. Overmyer.

Dale retired from Uniroyal (Ball Band) in 1985. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School before going into the US Army serving in WW II during 1944 – 1946, having served with the 209th Field Artillery Battalion, European Theatre, notably in the Battle of the Bulge.  He was a vital part of the Portage Township Volunteer Fire Department at its inception in 1968, serving as Assistant Chief. He was also an avid gardener, loved to read and was most certainly an enthusiastic patriot.


He is survived by a son, Richard Daurer of South Bend, daughters Jill A. (Bill) Bottorff of South Bend, Julie K. (David) Gunn of Elkhart, grandchildren Jennifer Grill, Brian (Alicia) Bottorff, Jessica Bottorff, Caitlin (Nate) Kantz, Shannon Gunn and great grandchildren Landon, Aydan, Aryana, Ben, Charlie, Sam, Zeke, Hank, Clay, Melanie, and Riley. Dale was a proud fan of all their accomplishments.

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 23rd from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Chapel Hill Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be on Monday, December 23rd at 1:00 PM with Reverend Bob Vale officiating at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Osceola, IN

U.S. Army Military Honors will be conducted with the assistance of the VFW #360.

Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, IN

Memorials may be given to the Salvation Army or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.