Dale Francis Sisel

This week we lost a very special man. Dale Francis Sisel was born June 26, 1937 in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, the second of Gordon Patrick and Laura Rubens Sisel's three children. He, his sisters, Pat and Dianne, and their cousin, Jackie, grew up on the Sisel family farm in Slovan, Wisconsin, surrounded by parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. Dale attended Slovan's one-room grade school, but often played hooky to go fishing, a hobby he would enjoy for the rest of his life. Dale graduated from Casco High School and attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison. However, not being a big fan of school, Dale dropped out and joined the Air Force. He attended flight school and became a navigator and, later, attended Officer Training School. Dale was stationed at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts where he served as Air Force Attaché to the Coast Guard. While stationed at Westover, he met his future wife, Karen Wehr. After a brief courtship, they were married on October 28, 1960. In 1963, Dale and Karen moved to Arlington, Texas. Dale retired from the Air Force in 1967, having reached the rank of Captain, and returned to school. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1969, Dale accepted a job as a financial analyst at R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. He, Karen and their two daughters, Beth and Paige, moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dale moved up the corporate ladder at RJR and, in 1989, was named President and CEO of R. J. Reynolds International. He continued in this position until his retirement in 1993. Though he spent many years in the corporate world, Dale's love of the outdoors never left him and, in 1993, he bought Sphinx Mountain Ranch in Cameron, Montana. Dale and Karen spent summers at the ranch, fishing, hunting and entertaining their frequent visitors. Dale thoroughly enjoyed spending sunny days fly fishing the Madison and Big Horn rivers with his close friend, Chip Bowles. Having bought the ranch, Dale spent time learning the history of the area and, subsequently became a supporter of the Museum of the Rockies. Dale and Karen spent winters in Winston-Salem, so they could be near their children and grandchildren. Dale developed a relationship with the faculty at Wake Forest University where he funded several chairs and scholarships within the business school. Dale's support of Wake Forest was not limited to academics, however. He was a member of the Deacon Club and enjoyed attending both football and basketball games. Dale enjoyed other sports, as well. On weekends, it was not uncommon to find him reading a good book and keeping an eye on one sporting event or another, or attending one of his grandchildren's games. Dale loved to travel and, over the course of his life, he visited each of the seven continents. His travels enabled him to meet many interesting people, many of whom became good friends. Dale was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dianne and his brother-in-law, Bob Sell. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Karen, his daughters Beth Agejew (Mike) and Paige Sipe, his six grandchildren, Michael, Mark and Emily Agejew and Will, Sarah and Zack Sipe, his sister, Pat Sell, several nieces and nephews, and many friends from around the world. A celebration of life service will be held at Wait Chapel on the Wake Forest University campus on Friday, January 9th at 2pm, followed by a reception in the Magnolia Room. We wish to thank the staffs of Forsyth Medical Center's 9 West, Whitaker Rehabilitation, Trinity Elms and Hospice for making Dad's last months as comfortable as possible. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com. (Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel)

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